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Senators Urge Trump to Support Congressional Plan for TikTok Sale Deadline Extension

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Three Democratic senators have called on President Donald Trump to seek congressional approval for extending the deadline for ByteDance, the Chinese parent company of TikTok, to sell a majority stake in the app to U.S. owners. This call comes amid ongoing concerns over a potential ban of TikTok in the United States.

Earlier this year, Trump unilaterally extended the original deadline from January 19 to April 5 by postponing the enforcement of a law requiring ByteDance to divest a majority stake to U.S. investors. Trump suggested that he may further extend this deadline to provide additional time to finalize a deal.

Senators Ed Markey, Chris Van Hollen, and Cory Booker expressed concerns about the legality and the long-term future of TikTok under the current non-enforcement stance, stating that the deadline extension should be handled through legislation passed by Congress. They urged Trump to back a proposal that would extend the deadline until October. The senators emphasized the need for a legislative solution, pointing out that TikTok is used by 170 million Americans and should not be left in limbo.

In response, the White House has yet to comment, but discussions have reportedly been focusing on a plan that would involve the largest non-Chinese investors in ByteDance increasing their stakes to take over the U.S. operations of TikTok. This move aims to dilute Chinese ownership, thereby addressing national security concerns regarding the app’s potential use in influence operations.

The fate of TikTok has been uncertain for months, with some reports suggesting that the Trump administration is working on a deal involving Oracle and other investors to take control of TikTok’s U.S. operations. The senators have called for clarity from Trump regarding the legal basis for any further extensions and whether the White House is in negotiations with Oracle to manage TikTok’s user data security.

OpenAI Appoints Brad Lightcap as COO to Lead Global Expansion Efforts

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OpenAI’s Chief Operating Officer, Brad Lightcap, has been tasked with leading the company’s global expansion and corporate partnerships, as the AI startup looks to solidify its position in the rapidly evolving artificial intelligence industry. CEO Sam Altman made the announcement on Monday, noting that Lightcap will focus on business strategy, key partnerships, infrastructure, and operational excellence to enhance the impact of OpenAI’s research.

As Lightcap takes on a more prominent role in overseeing business operations, Altman will shift his attention toward the technical side of the company, concentrating on advancing research and product initiatives. Altman remains in charge of OpenAI’s overall direction.

In addition to these leadership changes, OpenAI is collaborating with SoftBank Group and Oracle on the $500-billion Stargate project, which involves creating a network of data centers designed to support AI workloads. The initiative is part of OpenAI’s broader efforts to scale its operations and power cutting-edge AI research.

Lightcap, who previously worked with Altman at Y Combinator, has been with OpenAI since 2018. He will now lead the company’s global deployment strategy. Furthermore, OpenAI has also expanded the responsibilities of Chief Research Officer Mark Chen, who will integrate research and product development more closely.

Altman recently shared that OpenAI is working on simplifying its products, a move aimed at attracting new investments amid rising scrutiny over its substantial spending on AI development. The company is in the process of raising $40 billion as it transitions into a for-profit entity to secure the necessary capital to advance its AI models. In October, OpenAI closed a $6.6 billion funding round to fuel its growth.

ByteDance Investors Lead Talks on TikTok U.S. Spin-Off Amid National Security Concerns

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Discussions surrounding the future of TikTok are gaining momentum, with the leading non-Chinese investors in its parent company ByteDance taking the reins in talks with the White House. The proposed plan involves spinning off TikTok’s U.S. operations into a separate entity while reducing Chinese ownership to below 20% to meet U.S. legal requirements and avoid a potential ban.

Key figures in the talks include Jeff Yass’ Susquehanna International Group and Bill Ford’s General Atlantic, both of which have stakes in ByteDance and sit on its board. Private equity firm KKR is also reportedly involved in the negotiations. The proposed spin-off would see these investors increase their stakes, and software giant Oracle would continue managing U.S. user data, ensuring it remains inaccessible to Chinese authorities.

This plan follows a law passed in January that mandates ByteDance either sell TikTok or face a national security ban, citing concerns over the app’s ties to the Chinese government. While TikTok has defended its operations, emphasizing the independence of its U.S. data storage and content moderation practices, the law reflects broader concerns in Washington about potential influence operations through the app.

The ongoing discussions have significant implications for TikTok’s future in the U.S., where nearly half of Americans use the app. With the deadline for compliance set for April 5, U.S. investors are moving quickly to finalize the deal, which could potentially reshape the app’s ownership structure while addressing security concerns.