Deadline Extension Pushes TikTok U.S. Sale to January 2026 Amid Ongoing Uncertainty
Updated (3 articles)
Extended deadline forces new timeline for TikTok’s U.S. divestiture The Biden‑era 2024 law still requires ByteDance to sell TikTok’s U.S. operations or face a ban, and the deadline has been moved from Dec. 16, 2025 to Jan. 23, 2026 by a Trump executive order [3]. This marks the fifth postponement since the original Jan. 19, 2025 cutoff, each issued via executive order [1][2]. No agreement has been signed by ByteDance or the Chinese government, leaving the sale in legal limbo [1][2][3].
Investor group and high‑profile buyers remain speculative Trump has named potential participants such as Rupert Murdoch, Michael Dell, Oracle chairman Larry Ellison, and a consortium led by billionaire Frank McCourt that includes Alexis Ohanian and Kevin O’Leary [2][3]. McCourt says he has raised capital and is ready to act if the deadline arrives, but no formal offer has been accepted [3]. Both the White House and the investors acknowledge that a definitive deal has not materialized [1][2][3].
Oracle slated to supervise algorithm and data security A senior White House official confirmed Oracle will head U.S. oversight of TikTok’s recommendation engine and security architecture, without taking an equity stake or board seat [1][2]. The arrangement is intended to separate TikTok’s core technology from Chinese control while preserving its functionality for American users [1][2]. Details of the oversight framework have not been publicly released, and the timeline for implementation remains unclear [1][2].
Negotiations have stalled despite earlier November target Officials expected the transaction to close by early November 2025, but communication has gone silent since late October, and no further progress has been reported [1][2]. Other geopolitical headlines, including Trump’s ties to Jeffrey Epstein and U.S. naval actions near Venezuela, have dominated media coverage, pushing TikTok talks further from the spotlight [1]. The lack of approval from Beijing and ByteDance continues to block any final agreement [1][2][3].
Sources (3 articles)
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[1]
WBNS: TikTok Ban Deadline Looms Again as Trump Weighs a Fifth Extension – Details the December 16 deadline, potential Oracle oversight, and the absence of any approved sale, noting Trump’s repeated extensions and competing news headlines .
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[2]
King5: Deadline to Ban TikTok Approaches Again: Will Trump Extend It for a Fifth Time? – Highlights the same December 16 deadline, lists prospective buyers like Murdoch and Dell, confirms Oracle’s oversight role, and reports the quiet after an October November‑targeted timeline .
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[3]
BBC: TikTok US Sale Prospects Uncertain as Deadline Looms – Reports the newer January 23, 2026 deadline, emphasizes Frank McCourt’s investor consortium, repeats Trump’s claim of a completed deal involving Oracle and Dell, and stresses that neither ByteDance nor Beijing have approved any sale .
Timeline
2024 – President Biden signs a law that forces ByteDance to sell TikTok’s U.S. operations or face a ban, establishing the legal foundation for all later actions on the platform. [1]
Early 2025 – The Supreme Court upholds Biden’s 2024 law, confirming that the forced‑sale requirement is constitutional and giving the deadline a firm judicial backing. [1]
Jan 19, 2025 – The original deadline for ByteDance to divest TikTok’s U.S. assets arrives; failure would automatically bar the app for American users, prompting the administration to seek extensions. [3]
Sept 16, 2025 – President Trump issues an executive order that pushes the deadline to Dec 16, 2025, marking the fourth extension; the order also designates Oracle to oversee TikTok’s algorithm and security, though Oracle receives no equity or board seat. [2][3]
Late Oct 2025 – White House officials tell reporters the sale could close by early November, but the silence that follows fuels uncertainty about whether a buyer will materialize. [2][3]
Dec 12, 2025 – Trump declares publicly that “the TikTok deal is done” and lists potential investors such as Oracle chairman Larry Ellison and Dell Technologies’ Michael Dell, while stressing that sophisticated U.S. investors will take part. No approval comes from ByteDance or Beijing. [1]
Dec 15, 2025 – Billionaire Frank McCourt tells the BBC, “I’m waiting as the deadline nears,” after raising capital and building “Project Liberty” to replace Chinese technology; he says he wants TikTok to operate without its Chinese recommendation algorithm and awaits the new Jan 23, 2026 deadline. [1]
Dec 16, 2025 – The U.S. reaches the Dec 16 ban deadline; Trump weighs a fifth extension but has not issued one yet. A senior official reiterates Oracle’s oversight role, while other headlines (e.g., Trump’s ties to Jeffrey Epstein, Venezuelan boat strikes) dominate the news cycle. No sale is approved by ByteDance or Beijing. [2][3]
Jan 23, 2026 – Trump’s latest executive order moves the forced‑sale or ban deadline to Jan 23, 2026, extending the window for negotiations and keeping TikTok’s future in limbo. [1]