“We have a buyer for TikTok, by the way,” Trump said during a Fox News interview over the weekend. “I think I’ll need probably China approval, and I think President Xi will probably do it. It’s a group of very wealthy people.”

That cryptic tease comes as TikTok faces a looming U.S. ban if its China-based parent company, ByteDance, doesn’t divest from the platform by September 17. The company has already dodged the axe several times, thanks to multiple 75- and 90-day deadline extensions—the latest just issued earlier this month.

Why This Matters

TikTok isn’t just a fun app for dance trends and dog videos. Roughly 170 million Americans use it to get their news, build communities, and for some, make a living. A U.S. ban would ripple across the creator economy and tech sector—and be a major political move with global implications.

But any sale is tricky. ByteDance still needs the Chinese government’s approval to finalize any deal, and Beijing hasn’t signaled whether it’s on board with TikTok changing hands.

Who’s in the Running to Buy TikTok?

Several big names and high-profile groups have thrown their hats in the ring. Some were close to a deal earlier this year—until fresh U.S. tariffs on Chinese goods scuttled progress.

Here’s a breakdown of the major contenders:

1. A Private Consortium with ByteDance Keeping a Minority Stake

One of the most advanced proposals came from a group of U.S.-based venture capital firms and tech investors. Under that plan, ByteDance would retain just 20% ownership, in line with U.S. law, which also prohibits the company from influencing TikTok’s data or algorithm.

No companies were publicly named at the time, but a source told CNN that all sides—ByteDance, U.S. investors, and the Trump administration—were aligned on the deal before negotiations stalled.

2. Oracle + American Investors

Oracle, TikTok’s current U.S. cloud technology partner, has reportedly been among the top bidders, possibly teaming up with private equity firm General Atlantic and investment group Susquehanna International.

Oracle has long had a cozy relationship with Trump-era officials and previously tried to secure a controlling stake in TikTok during Trump’s first term.

None of the parties commented when reached on Monday.

3. The People’s Bid – Frank McCourt, Kevin O’Leary, Alexis Ohanian

This group brands itself as “The People’s Bid” and brings together billionaire Frank McCourt (former owner of the LA Dodgers), “Shark Tank” star Kevin O’Leary, and Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian.

Their pitch? A Made-in-America TikTok that gives users more control over their data and limits algorithmic manipulation.

“Every day without a qualified divestiture puts Americans at greater risk of manipulation and surveillance,” a Project Liberty spokesperson said.

4. MrBeast + Employer.com’s Jesse Tinsley

Yes, MrBeast, the YouTube superstar with 250+ million subscribers, is part of another group reportedly interested in buying TikTok. He’s partnered with Employer.com founder Jesse Tinsley.

Their group hasn’t shared many public details, and a representative declined to comment on Monday.

5. AI Startup Perplexity

In a bold March announcement, artificial intelligence firm Perplexity said it wanted to buy TikTok and rebuild its algorithm from scratch—without creating a monopoly.

Their reasoning? As a smaller player in tech, they claim they could offer TikTok the innovation it needs without big tech baggage.

Perplexity hasn’t commented further since that statement.

What’s Next?

While Trump promises a reveal “within two weeks,” the road to a finalized deal is far from clear. China’s position remains a wild card, and the U.S. government will still need to vet any buyer to ensure compliance with the sale-or-ban law passed last year under President Biden.

Meanwhile, millions of creators and users continue using TikTok daily—unsure whether their favorite platform will be American-owned or banned altogether come September.

Stay tuned—this saga is far from over.

Source: CNN – Trump says he has a TikTok buyer. Here are the players who have been vying to buy the app

The post Trump Says TikTok Buyer Is Ready—Here’s Who Might Own the App Next appeared first on Journos News - Breaking News, World News, Top Stories, Todays Headlines and Flash Reports.

A Trump administration official confirmed Wednesday that Amazon submitted its offer in a letter addressed to Vice President JD Vance and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick. The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, did not disclose the bid’s specifics. The New York Times first reported the development.

The urgency stems from a national security law upheld by the Supreme Court, which requires TikTok’s Chinese parent company, ByteDance, to sell the platform to an approved U.S. buyer or face an operational shutdown in the country. President Donald Trump, who has millions of TikTok followers, temporarily paused the ban on Inauguration Day but has signaled that he expects a resolution by Saturday. While he has the power to delay the ban further, he has also indicated that he prefers a deal to be finalized quickly.

Amazon has declined to comment on the bid, and TikTok has not responded to requests for a statement.

Amazon’s bid isn’t the only one on the table. Several major players have expressed interest in acquiring TikTok’s U.S. operations, including:

• Oracle: The software giant already holds a 12.5% stake in TikTok Global as part of a 2020 agreement when it became the app’s cloud technology provider.
• Blackstone: The investment firm has also been exploring a potential bid.
• Perplexity AI: The artificial intelligence startup proposed a merger with TikTok’s U.S. operations in January, emphasizing its ability to revamp the platform’s algorithm without creating a monopoly.
• Frank McCourt’s Consortium: The billionaire businessman, along with Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian as a strategic adviser, reportedly offered ByteDance $20 billion in cash for TikTok’s U.S. platform.
• Employer.com Founder Jesse Tinsley: Tinsley’s consortium is said to have put forth an offer exceeding $30 billion.
• Wyoming Businessman Reid Rasner: Rasner claims to have made the highest bid so far—approximately $47.5 billion.

The controversy surrounding TikTok isn’t just about business; it’s a matter of national security, according to U.S. officials. Both the FBI and the Federal Communications Commission have expressed concerns that ByteDance could potentially share user data—including browsing history, location tracking, and biometric identifiers—with the Chinese government.

TikTok has repeatedly denied these allegations, stating it has never shared data with Beijing and wouldn’t comply with such requests. However, U.S. officials argue that China’s national security laws could compel ByteDance to hand over user information if demanded by authorities. Despite the warnings, no concrete evidence has been publicly presented to confirm these fears.

Trump’s stance on TikTok has fluctuated over time. During his first term, he signed executive orders banning transactions with ByteDance and WeChat, citing security risks. However, since then, his view of TikTok has softened, particularly as he’s leveraged the platform’s vast reach to engage younger voters. He has acknowledged TikTok’s influence in shaping public opinion and political discourse.

With the Saturday deadline fast approaching, the next few days will be crucial in determining TikTok’s fate in the United States. Whether Amazon’s bid gains traction or another company emerges as the frontrunner remains to be seen. One thing is certain: the battle over TikTok is far from over.

Source: AP News – Amazon’s last-minute bid for TikTok comes as a US ban on the platform is set to take effect Saturday

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