📢 Ban Delayed, Deal Brewing

The TikTok saga just got another plot twist.

A September 16 executive order from President Trump pushed the U.S. ban deadline to December 16, 2025, the fourth extension so far. TikTok now has three more months to operate while behind-the-scenes negotiations play out.

Trump also stated that a deal has been reached in principle to move TikTok’s U.S. business under American ownership, with final details expected soon.

Let’s dive into it.

🧩 What We know:

• ByteDance is negotiating a tentative deal to spin off TikTok’s U.S. business.

• The buyer group includes Oracle, Silver Lake, and Andreessen Horowitz.

• The plan: a new U.S.-run entity where American investors hold about 80% and Chinese shareholders retain a minority stake.

• This deal is tied to broader U.S.-China economic talks, including semiconductor exports.

• If the deal proceeds, American users may be prompted to transition to a new, independently run app that TikTok is already building and testing in anticipation of regulatory approval.

• Meanwhile, TikTok Shop’s explosive growth is drawing heavier scrutiny from lawmakers and market regulators.

Our Take:

TikTok has become too big to ban cleanly, and this standoff proves it.
Washington and Beijing are playing high-stakes chess while creators and brands are trying to plan next week’s content.
Until the ink dries on a deal, the only safe strategy is agility. Keep the TikToks coming, but be ready to pivot the second the rules change.