Trump confident of TikTok deal before April 5 deadline

In a stunning reversal, President Donald Trump now says he is eager to secure a deal to keep TikTok alive in the U.S., despite previously branding the Chinese-owned app a national security risk. With an April 5 deadline looming for ByteDance to sell the platform or face a ban, Trump has shifted his tone, claiming TikTok played a crucial role in his appeal to young voters.

Speaking aboard Air Force One on Sunday, Trump assured reporters that multiple buyers were interested and that he was “pretty certain” a deal would be reached. However, his newfound enthusiasm has raised eyebrows, as he admitted that TikTok may have helped him dominate the youth vote by 36 points.

The U.S. law forcing ByteDance to divest from TikTok, enacted over fears of Chinese surveillance and election interference, was initially delayed by Trump upon taking office. But with the deadline now fast approaching, questions arise over whether his reversal is truly about security—or pure political strategy.

As negotiations continue, critics argue Trump’s latest stance on TikTok is a blatant admission that his crackdown was more about control than safety. Will he extend the deadline again, or will the app’s fate ultimately depend on who benefits from its influence?