Senators Urge Trump to Seek Congressional Authority for TikTok Sale Extension

Three Democratic senators have urged President Donald Trump to seek congressional approval to extend the deadline for ByteDance's TikTok sale, Reuters reports. This comes as the White House reportedly considers a deal with Oracle for a US TikTok entity.

In a letter to Trump, Senators Ed Markey, Chris Van Hollen, and Cory Booker argue that extending the sale deadline is crucial to prevent a potential ban on TikTok in the US. They also express concern over the legality of Trump's previous unilateral extension of the deadline.

"This non-enforcement of the TikTok ban was not only unlawful but also raised serious questions about TikTok’s future," the senators wrote, calling on the president to support legislation extending the deadline to October. "The path to saving TikTok should run through Capitol Hill."

The White House and TikTok have yet to comment on the senators' letter. However, Reuters reported last week that discussions are underway for a deal involving increased investment from existing non-Chinese investors in ByteDance to acquire TikTok's US operations. This plan involves creating a separate US entity for TikTok and diluting Chinese ownership to address US national security concerns.

The fate of TikTok, which boasts 170 million US users, has been uncertain for months. The senators' letter emphasizes the need for a long-term solution, urging Trump to "stand up for TikTok’s users and use your immense influence over congressional Republicans to demand a long-term solution to the TikTok ban."

The senators' call for congressional action stems from a bipartisan law passed last year expressing concerns that Beijing could use TikTok for influence operations against the US. This led to a brief shutdown of the app in the US, followed by a brief period of online access after Trump's inauguration.

In January, Reuters reported that the Trump administration was exploring a deal involving Oracle and existing ByteDance investors to take control of TikTok's operations. The senators' letter seeks clarification from Trump on his plans to extend the deadline and the legal basis for such an extension. They also want to know if reports are accurate that the White House is considering a deal with Oracle, which would involve a stake in TikTok and security measures for user data.

Trump recently stated that his administration is in contact with four unidentified groups regarding a potential TikTok deal.