TikTok denies $300M TRUMP token purchase amid bribery allegations
Trump extends TikTok deadline, faces token scandal
TikTok has denied allegations of purchasing $300 million worth of TRUMP memecoins in exchange for another extension on settling the sale of its U.S. operations.
Following President Donald Trump’s third extension of the deadline for TikTok to separate from its Chinese parent company, Democratic Congressman Brad Sherman accused Trump of accepting a bribe from TikTok’s Chinese owners.
Loading...
"The law allows only one extension, so Trump’s failure to enforce it is illegal. Meanwhile, TikTok’s Chinese owners announced they’re buying $300 million worth of ‘Trump Coins.’ Since Trump mints these coins for free, it’s just a $300 million bribe going into his pocket," Sherman wrote on X.
The delay—originally signed on January 20—grants legal protection to TikTok’s U.S. service providers under the "Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary-Controlled Applications Act." Trump’s latest order, signed Thursday, extends the deadline by 90 days to mid-September.
Delays, legal uncertainty and growing political tensions
TikTok service providers—Oracle, Apple, Google, and others—face potential multibillion-dollar fines if they violate the law.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed that the extension was intended to allow the ByteDance–Oracle coalition time to complete a delayed sale of TikTok’s U.S. assets, previously derailed by Trump’s tariff war.
However, the situation continues to spiral. Critics from both parties—including some Republicans—question the legality and sincerity of the repeated delays, especially if TikTok’s algorithm remains under Beijing’s control.
Leavitt stated that the Trump administration will use the next 90 days to “get this deal done so the American people can continue using TikTok, knowing their data is secure.”
TikTok called Sherman’s allegations “false and irresponsible,” denying any involvement in TRUMP token transactions.
As we wrote, China blocks TikTok deal after U.S. raises tariffs
