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President Donald Trump told reporters on Sunday that he is talking with four groups seeking to buy TikTok.
Trump shared the update with reporters while on Air Force One in response to questions about the popular video-sharing app owned by Chinese media group ByteDance.
“We’re dealing with four different groups, and a lot of people want it … all four are good,” he stated.
Trump has also mentioned the possibility of extending the 75 days given to TikTok after he returned to the White House.
TikTok was restored to Google and Apple app stores last month after being removed over a legal ban requiring the company to divest from China-based ByteDance.
The change came following a reported letter from the Trump administration’s U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi, notifying the companies they would not be punished for offering the app while negotiations continue with TikTok’s parent company.
“I’m going to make it worthwhile for China to do it,” Trump said at a press conference on Thursday when asked about making a deal concerning the app, Politico reported.
“It will be to China’s advantage to have the deal be made,” he said.
“Well, I have 90 days from about two weeks ago, and I’m sure it can be extended,” he said. “But let’s see. I don’t think you’ll need to.”
Trump signed an executive order on his first day in office in January to give ByteDance 75 days to sell TikTok before implementing a ban on the app.
The order delayed the Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act from being enacted following a Supreme Court ruling.
“I am instructing the Attorney General not to take any action to enforce the Act for a period of 75 days from today to allow my Administration an opportunity to determine the appropriate course forward in an orderly way that protects national security while avoiding an abrupt shutdown of a communications platform used by millions of Americans,” the order read.
“During this period, the Department of Justice shall take no action to enforce the Act or impose any penalties against any entity for any noncompliance with the Act,” it added.
