US Senator Says Trump's Extension Of The TikTok Deadline Could Violate The Law

Chairman of the Democratic Party on the US Senate Intelligence Committee, Senator Mark Warner (photo: x @MarkWarner)

JAKARTA The chairman of the Democratic Party on the US Senate Intelligence Committee, Senator Mark Warner, stated on Monday 7 April that President Donald Trump's decision to extend the deadline for ByteDance a Chinese company owned by TikTok to relinquish ownership of TikTok assets in the United States, has the potential to violate the law.

Warner said the agreement under consideration does not meet legal requirements passed in 2024, requiring ByteDance's full removal of ByteDance's influence on TikTok operations in the US.

"The agreement still plays a material and operational role for ByteDance, allowing it to maintain significant shares in divestment revenue entities, and remains involved in technology and maintenance development," Warner said.

Trump on Friday 4 April announced that he extended a 75-day deadline for ByteDance to sell TikTok assets in the US to non-Chinese buyers, or face a full ban that should have taken effect in January, according to the 2024 law.

As of Monday, the White House and TikTok have not made official comments on this issue.

According to sources quoted by Reuters, the deal plans include TikTok's operational separation in the US into a new US-based entity and the majority owned and operated by US investors.

However, Warner insists that legitimate divestment must include a complete cut between ByteDance and TikTok USA, including preventing ByteDance from continuing to develop, influence, or access user data as well as app source codes.

"The agreement that is being discussed undermines the belief that the divestment proceeds application will be able to protect national security and comply with the law," Warner wrote.

Trump also stated that his government is currently communicating with four different parties regarding the potential acquisition of TikTok. However, the main challenge hindering this process is the blessing of the Chinese government. So far, Beijing has not expressed public support for TikTok's sales, and Trump's comments last Friday hinted that China is again showing rejection.

Some lawmakers insist that Trump must enforce the applicable law, requiring TikTok to stop operating in the US as of January 19 if ByteDance has not completed divestment. However, after Trump officially started his second term on January 20, 2025, he chose not to enforce the rules.

The US Department of Justice also previously told Apple and Google that it would not enforce the law, which then allowed the two tech giants to allow TikTok to be re-available for download on their app stores.