TikTok Abandoned, Potential
Investors Suddenly Flee
Jakarta, CNBC Indonesia –TikTok’s fate in the United States (US) remains uncertain. Last month, US President Donald Trump announced a delay in enforcing TikTok’s legal status in the US until September 17, 2025.
This is the third time Trump has extended the negotiation process that will determine whether TikTok will continue operating or be permanently blocked in the United States.
Negotiations between China’s ByteDance and the US government centered on handing over TikTok’s US operations to a local entity. As far as is known, a consortium of US investors would control 80% of TikTok’s US shares, with ByteDance holding the remainder.
However, one of TikTok’s potential investors has reportedly withdrawn from the consortium. That prospective investor is none other than private equity giant Blackstone.
This information comes from a source familiar with discussions regarding the takeover of TikTok by a US entity, as quoted by Reuters on Monday (July 21, 2025).
According to the Reuters report, Blackstone initially planned to take a minority stake in TikTok’s US business. The Trump-orchestrated investor consortium is led by Susquehanna International Group and General Atlantic.
Both entities are currently investors in ByteDance, TikTok’s Chinese parent company.
Blackstone declined to comment. TikTok did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
For your information, the US administration under Joe Biden has signed regulations forcing ByteDance to divest its US operations. Otherwise, TikTok faces a permanent ban.
The regulations stem from government concerns that TikTok’s US user data could be leaked to the Xi Jinping government in China if the popular service remains under ByteDance.
Initially, the law’s enforcement date was set for January 19, 2025. However, after Trump was inaugurated, he postponed it, opening up more time for negotiations.
Trump has already postponed the law’s enforcement three times regarding TikTok’s status. This has led to speculation that negotiations between the US and China remain tense, especially as Trump launches a high-stakes tariff war with China.
Let’s wait and see what TikTok’s fate will be in the US and who the US investors will be who will control the service!
SOURCE : CNBC INDONESIA
