“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

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TikTok’s battle to stay online in the U.S. didn’t start with President Trump—but he’s now the one holding the clock.

The story began under the Biden administration, which passed legislation in 2023 giving ByteDance, TikTok’s China-based parent company, roughly nine months to either sell the app to a U.S. buyer or face a nationwide ban. The law was rooted in national security concerns, with lawmakers worried that the Chinese government could access U.S. user data or manipulate the platform’s powerful algorithm to influence public opinion.

These fears weren’t pulled out of thin air. TikTok had already faced multiple investigations, including a high-profile one by the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS), which flagged the app as a potential risk due to its ties to China and vast reach among American users—especially younger generations.

By the time the law kicked in on January 19, 2024, TikTok had over 170 million active users in the U.S. alone, making any potential ban a politically sensitive move. The app briefly went offline that day, but returned just hours later after then newly sworn-in President Trump issued a temporary 75-day stay on enforcement.

It was a surprising reversal from Trump, who first tried to ban TikTok back in 2020 during his previous term. That effort, tied to a proposed deal with Oracle and Walmart, ultimately fell apart and was blocked in court. At the time, Trump cited the same national security concerns Biden would later use to justify the new law. But since returning to office, Trump has said he softened his stance after using the app himself and seeing its cultural impact.

TikTok’s Algorithm: The Real Prize

One of the biggest sticking points in any potential deal? TikTok’s algorithm.

Described as the app’s “secret sauce,” the recommendation system behind TikTok is what makes it so addictive—and so valuable. It’s also the part Chinese regulators have shown zero willingness to give up.

In 2020, China added algorithms and AI systems to its list of restricted exports, meaning ByteDance would need the Chinese government’s explicit approval to sell TikTok with its core technology included. Without the algorithm, any U.S. version of TikTok would essentially be a shell of its former self—far less engaging, and far less competitive.

Tech, Trade, and Tension

At this point, TikTok is more than just a social media app. It’s a geopolitical flashpoint in the larger rivalry between the U.S. and China.

The latest 90-day extension comes at a moment when Washington and Beijing are both looking for ways to ease economic tensions, including recent talks aimed at relaxing export controls and avoiding escalation in the tech war. TikTok has become a symbol of that broader struggle over digital sovereignty, tech dominance, and user data control in the 21st century.

Any deal to transfer TikTok’s U.S. operations will have to navigate not just American politics, but also Chinese legal hurdles, tech export regulations, and mounting pressure from Wall Street, Silicon Valley, and TikTok’s massive creator economy.

Source: CNN – Trump will grant TikTok another 90-day extension in enforcement of sale-or-ban law

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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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The high-stakes meeting comes amid ongoing uncertainty surrounding TikTok’s future, after a law went into effect on January 19 that requires its parent company, ByteDance, to divest ownership due to national security concerns. In a move to buy time, Trump signed an executive order that delayed enforcement of the law until April 5, pushing the deadline for TikTok’s sale or potential ban.

According to a source familiar with the situation, possible investors in the deal include tech giant Oracle and private equity firm Blackstone. The meeting is expected to include key figures such as Vice President JD Vance, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, White House National Security Adviser Mike Waltz, and Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard.

Speaking to reporters on Air Force One, Trump expressed his desire to “see TikTok remain alive,” signaling his intent to find a solution. In the past, he’s suggested that reducing tariffs against China could be part of the negotiations if the country agrees to the sale.

Trump’s relationship with TikTok has been turbulent. During his first term, he attempted to ban the app over security concerns, but legal challenges halted those plans. The Trump administration later explored a sale, though no agreement was reached. More recently, Trump has credited TikTok with helping him secure a significant portion of the youth vote in the 2020 election, where he won the young vote by 36 points—a rare feat for Republicans.

“I think a lot of it could have been TikTok,” Trump remarked, noting the platform’s role in engaging younger voters.

If no deal is struck by April 5, the law mandating TikTok’s divestiture or banning it in the U.S. will come back into effect. However, the deadline may not be set in stone. Trump has suggested that the executive order could be extended if necessary, offering a potential reprieve for the app.

In January, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld a federal law requiring ByteDance to either sell TikTok or face a nationwide ban. Shortly after, TikTok was temporarily taken offline for U.S. users, but was brought back after Trump vowed to stall the ban with an executive order.

While the move has faced some scrutiny, it has not yet been legally challenged.

Though it’s unclear whether ByteDance is willing to sell TikTok, several potential buyers have stepped forward in recent months.

One group showing interest is a consortium led by billionaire Frank McCourt, which has offered ByteDance $20 billion for TikTok’s U.S. operations. This group includes Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian as a strategic adviser and plans to revamp the app with blockchain technology, offering users greater control over their online data.

Another interested party is Jesse Tinsley, the founder of Employer.com, who has assembled a group of investors—including Roblox CEO David Baszucki—to offer more than $30 billion for TikTok.

Additionally, former Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin and Rumble, a conservative-friendly video platform, have expressed interest in the deal. Rumble has even signaled its willingness to join a consortium to purchase TikTok and partner with the company on the tech side.

Other potential buyers include Perplexity AI, an artificial intelligence startup, which proposed a merger with TikTok’s U.S. operations earlier this year.

As the April 5 deadline approaches, it remains to be seen whether ByteDance will agree to a sale, or whether TikTok will face a nationwide ban in the U.S. Trump’s meeting on Wednesday will be a critical moment in these ongoing negotiations, and the future of TikTok in America could hinge on the outcome.

Source: – AP News – Trump to hold a meeting on possible investors to buy TikTok with possible ban at stake

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Elon Musk has made another bold move in the tech industry, selling his social media platform, X, to his artificial intelligence company, xAI, in an all-stock deal valued at $33 billion. The billionaire entrepreneur announced the transaction on Friday, describing it as a strategic step to integrate AI-driven advancements with X’s extensive user base.

Both X and xAI are privately held companies, meaning they are not obligated to disclose their financial details publicly. However, Musk emphasized the potential benefits of the deal, stating that it will “unlock immense potential by blending xAI’s advanced AI capability and expertise with X’s massive reach.”

The deal values xAI at $80 billion and X at $33 billion. Musk originally acquired the platform—then known as Twitter—for $44 billion in 2022. Since then, he has significantly reshaped the company, cutting staff, altering content moderation policies, and rebranding it as X.

Musk launched xAI in 2023, focusing on artificial intelligence development. With this latest merger, he aims to integrate AI more deeply into X, leveraging the platform’s vast data and user interactions to enhance AI capabilities.

“xAI and X’s futures are intertwined. Today, we officially take the step to combine the data, models, compute, distribution, and talent,” Musk posted on X. “This combination will unlock immense potential by blending xAI’s advanced AI capability and expertise with X’s massive reach. The combined company will deliver smarter, more meaningful experiences to billions of people while staying true to our core mission of seeking truth and advancing knowledge.”

It remains unclear how this deal will impact everyday X users. xAI already utilizes data from X posts to train its AI models, and premium X subscribers have access to its AI chatbot, Grok. Whether this merger will introduce new AI-driven features or alter user experiences significantly is yet to be seen.

Musk’s latest move reinforces his long-term vision of integrating artificial intelligence into digital communication platforms, potentially reshaping the future of online interactions.

Source: AP News – Elon Musk sells X to his own xAI for $33 billion in all-stock deal

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YouTube and TikTok star MrBeast, whose real name is Jimmy Donaldson, has officially entered the race to buy TikTok, leading a group of investors. This move comes as the social media platform faces a 75-day deadline to secure a non-Chinese owner or risk a permanent ban in the U.S.

On January 13th, Donaldson posted a lighthearted message on X, saying, “Okay fine, I’ll buy TikTok so it doesn’t get banned.” While his tone was playful, his lawyer confirmed to CNN that Donaldson was serious about the bid. As the most popular YouTuber and third-most popular TikToker, Donaldson’s involvement has added a new twist to the ongoing TikTok saga.

A Rapid Turn of Events for TikTok

TikTok’s future has been in jeopardy for weeks, with legal battles and political pressure mounting. On Saturday night, the app temporarily went dark as a nationwide ban appeared imminent. However, after President Donald Trump announced he would sign an executive order delaying the ban by 75 days, TikTok was back online within 12 hours.

Just two days after his post on X, Donaldson shared a TikTok video, revealing that he had “just gotten out of a meeting with a bunch of billionaires” and was serious about purchasing the platform. “TikTok, we mean business,” Donaldson declared, introducing his lawyer and confirming that an offer was on the table.

The Bid: A Serious Attempt to Keep TikTok Alive

Donaldson’s bid is a direct response to a recent Supreme Court ruling, which upheld a federal law banning TikTok unless ByteDance, the app’s Chinese parent company, sells the platform to a non-China-based company. This ruling has left TikTok in a race against time.

Leading the investment group is Jesse Tinsley, CEO of Employer.com, who is joined by “institutional investors and high-net-worth individuals” determined to save TikTok from being shut down. According to the group, the proposal would not disrupt TikTok’s operations, ensuring continuity for its 170 million American users.

Tinsley emphasized, “Our offer represents a win-win solution that preserves this vital platform while addressing legitimate national security concerns.” However, the bid’s financial details have not been disclosed.

A Looming Deadline for TikTok

Talk of selling TikTok to a U.S.-based company has been circulating since 2020 when President Trump first issued an executive order attempting to ban the app. Last week, after the Supreme Court upheld the federal law, TikTok faced a tough decision: either sell to a new buyer or risk being shut down.

Over the weekend, TikTok displayed a message indicating the ban was imminent. “Sorry, TikTok isn’t available right now,” it read. However, Trump’s executive order signed on Monday extended the ban’s enforcement for 75 days, providing temporary relief but not a permanent solution. To avoid a permanent shutdown, ByteDance would need to find a buyer, or Congress could pass a new law to overturn the ban—a highly unlikely scenario given the bipartisan support for the current legislation.

Other Bids and Potential Buyers

MrBeast is not the only one interested in acquiring TikTok. Reports have surfaced that Chinese officials have considered selling a portion of the app to tech mogul Elon Musk, though neither ByteDance nor Musk has commented on the rumors.

Additionally, “The People’s Bid for TikTok,” a group that includes Shark Tank’s Kevin O’Leary and billionaire Frank McCourt, has also made an offer to buy the platform. This group, backed by Guggenheim Securities and Tim Berners-Lee, the inventor of the World Wide Web, is also eager to prevent TikTok’s disappearance.

TikTok’s U.S. assets, excluding its valuable algorithm, are estimated to be worth between $40 billion and $50 billion, according to Wedbush Securities analyst Dan Ives. However, the true value of TikTok lies largely in its algorithm, making it difficult to put an exact price tag on the company.

McCourt’s group has not disclosed their offer publicly but has indicated that they value the assets at around $20 billion. O’Leary and McCourt’s group stated, “We will refrain from publicly sharing the financial specifics of our offer until ByteDance is in a position to review our proposal.”

The Race Against Time

With the clock ticking, TikTok is facing a pivotal moment. Whether it’s MrBeast and his group of investors, Elon Musk, or another bidder, one thing is clear: TikTok’s fate hangs in the balance. As more offers flood in, the platform’s future will ultimately depend on whether a deal can be reached before the 75-day deadline expires.

Source

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President-elect Donald Trump announced he will “most likely” grant TikTok a 90-day extension to comply with U.S. law requiring the social media platform to be sold by its China-based parent company or face a shutdown.

Trump’s Statement

In a phone interview with NBC News on Saturday, Trump said, “The 90-day extension is something that will be most likely done because it’s appropriate.” He added that if he decides to grant the extension, the announcement would likely be made on Monday, the day of his inauguration.

Deadline Looms

The current deadline set by the law requires TikTok to shut down operations in the U.S. by Sunday unless it complies. A 90-day extension would give TikTok additional time to meet the legal requirements and avoid going offline.

Supreme Court Decision

The U.S. Supreme Court unanimously upheld the law on Friday, solidifying the legal grounds for the shutdown if compliance is not achieved. Despite this, the Biden administration has stated it would not enforce a shutdown in the days leading up to Trump’s inauguration.

TikTok’s Response

TikTok has indicated that without the extension, it would have to “go dark” this weekend. The company has been exploring potential buyers and solutions to address U.S. security concerns related to its Chinese ownership.

What’s Next?

All eyes are on Monday for Trump’s potential announcement. A decision to extend the deadline would provide TikTok with additional time to restructure and ensure continued operation in the U.S. market.

Source

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