Trump Confirms Ongoing Talks for TikTok Sale With Four Potential Buyers
President Donald Trump has confirmed that negotiations are underway with four different groups regarding the sale of TikTok’s U.S. operations. Speaking aboard Air Force One on Sunday, Trump stated that "a lot of people want it" and that "all four are good," though he did not reveal specific details about the potential buyers. The fate of TikTok has been uncertain due to national security concerns, with a law requiring its Chinese owner, ByteDance, to sell the platform or face being banned in the U.S.
The deadline for a deal is currently set for April 5th, after Trump granted TikTok a 90-day extension to delay enforcement of the law. While he has suggested he could extend it again if necessary, he remains optimistic that an agreement could be reached soon. ByteDance, valued at over $400 billion, has yet to indicate interest in selling, but its CEO Shou Chew met with Trump at Mar-a-Lago in December in an effort to address the U.S.’s concerns.
Several parties have expressed interest in acquiring TikTok’s U.S. business, including a group led by former Los Angeles Dodgers owner Frank McCourt and Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian, as well as tech entrepreneur Jesse Tinsley and YouTube star MrBeast. Another potential bid comes from Perplexity AI, which has proposed a merger. Trump has also mentioned Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison as a possible contender, given TikTok’s existing partnership with Oracle for U.S. data storage.
Despite the ongoing negotiations, a sale would still require approval from China’s government, which has so far been resistant to the idea. Reports suggest officials have considered the possibility of Elon Musk acquiring the platform, though Musk has publicly stated he is not interested. Beijing’s public preference is for TikTok to remain under ByteDance’s control.
With TikTok’s U.S. market valued at up to $50 billion, the outcome of these discussions will have significant implications for the company. While Trump continues to push for a deal, the platform’s future remains uncertain as regulatory and geopolitical challenges complicate the process.
