WASHINGTON, Aug 22 (Reuters) - President Donald Trump

has U.S. buyers lined up for TikTok and could further extend

the deadline for China-based ByteDance to divest the app's U.S.

assets, he said on Friday, days after the White House joined the

short video platform.

Speaking to reporters, Trump dismissed bipartisan security

concerns over TikTok, saying his administration would watch for

any problems. He said he would talk to Chinese President Xi

Jinping "at the right time."

The Republican president has repeatedly opted not to enforce

the deadline following passage of a 2024 law requiring that

TikTok stop operating by January 19 of this year. He recently

pushed the deadline to September 17.

The White House joined the app on Tuesday.

"I haven't spoken to President Xi about it," Trump told

reporters during a visit to a White House gift shop across the

street from the presidential residence. "In the meantime, until

the complexity of things work out, we just extend a little bit

longer."

"We have very substantial American buyers that want to buy

it," he added, without naming any individuals or companies.

Asked if he was concerned about privacy or national

security, Trump said: "I'm really not. I think it's highly

overrated ... I'm a fan of TikTok."

Last year's law requires ByteDance to divest of the app's

U.S. assets or demonstrate significant progress toward a sale.

Trump opted not to enforce it after taking office on January 20.

Some lawmakers have criticized the delay, arguing his

administration is flouting the law and ignoring national

security concerns related to Chinese control over TikTok.