TikTok’s sale to US investors could be delayed for a fifth time

The sale of TikTok’s US business is once again at risk of being pushed back.

In an interview with the BBC, billionaire Frank McCourt, one of the bidders, said investors are still waiting for a decision from US authorities, even though the financing for the deal is fully secured.

The deadline set by the US Congress in 2024 for TikTok to be sold or face a nationwide ban was originally due to expire in January. The administration has already extended it several times and, according to sources, may do so again — potentially for the fifth time.

The push for a sale stems from concerns among US lawmakers about ByteDance’s possible ties to the Chinese government and the risk that Beijing could gain access to American user data. TikTok and ByteDance deny the allegations.

The legislation requiring TikTok to be sold or banned was signed by President Joe Biden, and in early 2025 it was upheld by the US Supreme Court. The Trump administration had previously claimed the deal was essentially agreed and had reportedly received approval from China’s President Xi Jinping. Potential buyers have included several US investors, among them Larry Ellison and Michael Dell.

Final terms were expected to be settled during the October 2025 meeting between Trump and Xi, but the talks concluded without an agreement. The future of TikTok in the United States remains unresolved.