Donald Trump just blamed China for backing out of deal that would sell TikTok to the U.S and keep it operating in the country.

During an interview with reporters, President Trump claimed that China would have approved the deal in 15 minutes if he had not announced the 54% tariff on Chinese imports

Trump suggested that reducing tariffs could have expedited the deal, claiming, “If I gave a little cut in tariffs, they would have approved that deal in 15 minutes.”

TikTok Sale Deadline Extended

On April 4, Trump extended the deadline by 75 days for TikTok to find a non-Chinese buyer or face a ban in the United States. He made this announcement after he imposed an additional 34% tariff on all Chinese imports into the U.S.

This marks yet another chapter in the ongoing saga surrounding the popular video-sharing app, which has been at the center of geopolitical tensions between Washington and Beijing.

The extension provides ByteDance additional time to negotiate with potential American buyers, but Beijing’s approval remains a critical hurdle due to restrictions on exporting AI technology.

While the original legislation targeting TikTok aimed for a complete sale to an American company, ByteDance has publicly dismissed this idea.

Trump has expressed his preference for a joint venture model that would allow both Chinese and American stakeholders to own shares in TikTok. However, negotiations have reportedly been complicated by recent changes within the White House team, including the firing of the National Security Agency head.

Vice President JD Vance and National Security Advisor Michael Waltz are leading efforts to broker a deal, but uncertainty remains over whether Beijing will approve any arrangement without concessions on tariffs or other trade policies.

Potential Buyers Emerge

Several U.S.-based companies and coalitions have expressed interest in acquiring TikTok’s U.S. operations. Leading contenders include Oracle, Microsoft, and an investor group led by Frank McCourt, which features prominent figures like Kevin O’Leary and Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian.

Amazon and Zoop reportedly made last-minute offers as well, while other high-profile names like Elon Musk and Youtuber MrBeast have been floated as potential buyers. However, Musk recently clarified he is not interested in acquiring TikTok.

In addition to private buyers, proposals for the U.S. government to take a stake in TikTok have also been raised. Earlier this year, Perplexity AI submitted a bid suggesting government ownership of up to half of the new entity—a move Trump hinted could be connected to plans for a proposed U.S. sovereign wealth fund.

Geopolitical Tensions Continue

The TikTok controversy highlights the broader geopolitical tensions between the U.S. and China, with trade policies and national security concerns intertwined in negotiations over the app’s future. As the June 18 deadline approaches, all eyes will be on whether ByteDance can strike a deal that satisfies both Washington and Beijing, or if TikTok will face an outright ban in one of its largest markets.