The future of TikTok in the United States remains uncertain as the latest deadlines for the app’s sale or ban approach. Billionaire investor Frank McCourt, who has expressed interest in acquiring TikTok’s US operations, told the BBC he is currently in a holding pattern as regulatory and political uncertainties persist.
Delays in TikTok Sale Deadline
US authorities have repeatedly postponed the date by which ByteDance, TikTok’s Chinese owner, must sell its US operations or face a ban.
- Former President Donald Trump initially set a 16 December 2025 deadline.
- The date was later extended to 23 January 2026 through a new executive order.
McCourt said:
“We’re just standing by and waiting to see what happens. But if the moment arrives, we’re prepared to move forward… we’ve raised the capital to buy it—we’ll see.”
The US government cited national security concerns due to ByteDance’s links to the Chinese government, with fears that Beijing could compel the company to hand over US user data. ByteDance has consistently denied these concerns.
Potential US Investors
Previous announcements indicated that a TikTok sale would involve US investors, including high-profile figures such as Oracle chairman Larry Ellison and Dell Technologies founder Michael Dell. McCourt is part of a separate investor group that includes Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian and Canadian investor Kevin O’Leary.
McCourt emphasized his desire to operate TikTok in the US without any Chinese technology, including its recommendation algorithm. His initiative, Project Liberty, has developed alternative technology that could replace ByteDance’s systems while complying with US law.
Regulatory Context
The law requiring TikTok to sell or be blocked was passed by Congress in 2024, signed by President Joe Biden, and upheld by the Supreme Court in early 2025. Despite repeated claims by Trump and his administration that a deal had been finalized with Beijing’s approval, no formal announcement of approval has come from ByteDance or Chinese authorities.
Trump’s executive order extending the deadline stressed that TikTok’s sale would allow the app to remain in the US, with safeguards to prevent foreign interference. McCourt, however, raised concerns about concentration of influence over a platform with enormous reach and societal impact.
Retraining TikTok Algorithm
As part of previously discussed deals, TikTok’s recommendation algorithm would be retrained on US user data to prevent foreign manipulation. This move is seen as a crucial step in addressing the national security concerns that have driven years of regulatory pressure.
The Road Ahead
With the January 2026 deadline approaching, TikTok’s fate in the US hinges on:
- Approval from ByteDance and Beijing for any sale.
- Regulatory compliance under US law.
- Investor readiness to acquire and operate the platform without Chinese technology.
McCourt and other investors remain poised to act, but for now, the platform’s future for over 170 million American users remains in limbo.
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