Senator Warns TikTok Deal Violates U.S. Law, Questions ByteDance’s Ongoing Role

Senator Mark Warner, the top Democrat on the Senate Intelligence Committee, criticized President Donald Trump’s decision to extend a deadline for ByteDance to divest TikTok’s U.S. assets, calling it a violation of the 2024 law mandating a sale to a non-Chinese buyer.

Warner expressed concern that the proposed deal would not meet legal requirements designed to sever ByteDance’s influence over TikTok's U.S. operations. According to Warner, the structure of the deal—allowing ByteDance to retain a significant equity stake and remain involved in technology development—fails to ensure the required “clean operational break.”

Trump recently announced a 75-day extension to the original divestment deadline, which was set for January 19, 2025. This move came after he reentered office on January 20 and chose not to enforce the law. The Justice Department had previously told Apple and Google that enforcement was paused, prompting the platforms to reinstate TikTok for new downloads.

The proposed plan reportedly includes spinning off TikTok’s U.S. operations into a new, U.S.-based company, majority-owned and controlled by American investors. However, lawmakers are warning that any agreement must block ByteDance from accessing personal data, source code, or influencing TikTok USA in any way.

Warner stated the current deal “undermines confidence” in TikTok’s ability to protect national security. Meanwhile, Chinese approval remains a significant hurdle, with no clear signal of support from Beijing. Trump acknowledged ongoing negotiations with multiple U.S. groups but indicated renewed Chinese resistance.

The White House and TikTok have yet to comment on the situation, which remains a flashpoint in the broader U.S.-China tech and data privacy conflict.