US President Donald Trump has revealed that Microsoft is currently in discussions to acquire TikTok, the popular social media app. Trump expressed his hope for a “bidding war” over TikTok’s sale, highlighting significant interest from multiple companies. When questioned by reporters about whether Microsoft was preparing a bid, Trump responded affirmatively, stating, “I would say yes.”
For years, both Trump and his predecessor, Joe Biden, have sought to force TikTok’s Chinese parent company, ByteDance, to sell its US operations, citing national security concerns. This move stems from worries about user data being accessed by the Chinese government.
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Trump’s announcement comes shortly after he signed an executive order last week, delaying a Biden Administration ban on TikTok that temporarily took the app offline for its 170 million US users. Despite the 75-day delay, Trump had previously taken the lead in pressuring ByteDance to offload the app.
Back in August 2020, ByteDance approached Microsoft as a potential buyer, a move later described by Microsoft’s CEO as “the strangest thing.” Although discussions moved forward, TikTok eventually chose Oracle as a potential partner, although that deal ultimately fell through.
Trump has previously indicated he was in talks with multiple parties regarding a potential sale of TikTok, expecting a resolution within 30 days. While a Microsoft spokesperson declined to comment on the matter, the BBC has also reached out to TikTok for a statement.
Earlier this week, Trump addressed a gathering of Republican politicians in Florida, again discussing the potential sale of TikTok. “We’ll see what happens. We’re going to have a lot of people bidding on it,” he said. Trump emphasized the importance of keeping China out of the equation, adding, “If we can save all that voice and all the jobs, and China won’t be involved, we don’t want China involved.”
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Among the individuals rumored to be interested in purchasing TikTok are billionaire Frank McCourt and Canadian businessman Kevin O’Leary, a well-known investor on the TV show Shark Tank. Additionally, Jimmy Donaldson, better known as MrBeast, the world’s biggest YouTuber, has also claimed he’s in the running after receiving interest from investors following a tweet signaling his desire to buy the platform.
As discussions continue, the future of TikTok in the US remains uncertain, with major companies and investors vying for a chance to acquire the app.
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