Washington, Feb 13 (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump mentioned on Thursday that the 75-day hold on enforcing a ban on TikTok, the popular short-video app, may be prolonged, yet he expressed doubt on the necessity of doing so.
During a briefing in the Oval Office, Trump expressed his desire to strike a deal with TikTok to ensure its continuity in the U.S. He attributed his victory in the 2024 presidential election partially to the app's influence.
The app's future has been uncertain since a law mandating its Chinese parent company ByteDance to sell it due to national security concerns or face a ban came into effect on January 19.
Following his inauguration on January 20, Trump issued an executive order to postpone the law's enforcement by 75 days.
When asked about the looming deadline, Trump responded, "I have 90 days from about two weeks ago, and I'm sure it can be extended. But let's see. I don't think you'll need to."
The meaning of the 90-day timeframe was not immediately clear.
Trump noted significant interest from various parties in acquiring the social media platform, emphasizing that its perception had shifted since the 2024 election. He commended the app for its fairness and effectiveness in engaging young voters.
Trump expressed his belief that Chinese President Xi Jinping would likely consent to the sale of TikTok to an American buyer, as it would be mutually beneficial. He cited plans to offer incentives for China to approve the deal, stating, "I think it would be to China's advantage to have the deal be made."