Senator Mark Warner, the top Democrat on the Senate Intelligence Committee, has expressed concerns that President Donald Trump‘s latest extension of the deadline for ByteDance to sell TikTok’s U.S. assets may violate the law.
This extension, announced on Friday, gives ByteDance an additional 75 days to divest its U.S. operations to a non-Chinese buyer or face a ban.
The original law, passed in 2024, aimed to address national security concerns by requiring ByteDance to sever ties with TikTok’s U.S. operations.
However, Senator Warner believes that the proposed deal, which would allow ByteDance to retain a significant stake and operational role in the new U.S.-based entity, does not meet the legal requirements for eliminating Chinese influence.
Under the reported plan, TikTok’s U.S. operations would be spun off into a new company, majority-owned by U.S. investors. However, Senator Warner argues that this arrangement would still preserve a substantial role for ByteDance in technology development and maintenance, potentially undermining the intent of the law.
Neither the White House nor TikTok has commented on Senator Warner’s concerns. The situation highlights ongoing tensions between the U.S. and China over trade and national security issues, with TikTok’s future in the U.S. hanging in the balance.
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