Trump Administration Orders ByteDance To Sell TikTok And All US Assets Within 90 Days

The Trump administration on Friday night ordered Chinese company ByteDance to sell all of its U.S. assets within 90 days, including its popular video app TikTok.

“There is credible evidence that leads me to believe that ByteDance ... might take action that threatens to impair the national security of the United States,” Trump said in an executive order.

The company is expected to destroy all copies of data connected to U.S. users and will be required to report to the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) when that data is destroyed.

“As we've said previously, TikTok is loved by 100 million Americans because it is a home for entertainment, self-expression, and connection,” ByteDance said in a response to the order. “We're committed to continuing to bring joy to families and meaningful careers to those who create on our platform for many years to come.”

An earlier executive order this month banned transactions with ByteDance and Chinese company Tencent, which owns the messaging service WeChat. That order had a 45-day deadline, with TikTok planning to sue the administration over the move.

Microsoft has confirmed that it is looking at buying TikTok from ByteDance in four countries: the U.S., Canada, Australia and New Zealand. The company could buy the app for as much as $30 billion or as low as $10 billion.

Trump has previously cracked down on Chinese companies. In May 2019, Trump barred U.S. firms from doing business with Chinese telecommunications giant Huawei over national security reasons.

In June, India banned 59 apps developed by Chinese firms, including TikTok and WeChat, claiming they impinge on national sovereignty. The move followed a border clash between India and China that killed 20 Indian soldiers that same month.