U.S. President Donald Trump has confirmed that Microsoft is in discussions to acquire TikTok and expressed hopes for a “bidding war” over the sale of the popular social media platform.
Speaking to reporters, Trump stated, “I would say yes,” when asked about Microsoft’s involvement, adding that there is “great interest in TikTok” from various companies.
The President’s remarks come as the administration ramps up pressure on TikTok’s Chinese parent company, ByteDance, to sell its U.S. operations due to national security concerns.
The debate over TikTok’s operations in the U.S. spans multiple administrations. Trump and his predecessor, Joe Biden, have both pursued actions to limit TikTok’s influence on national security grounds.
Last week, Trump reversed a previous Biden administration ban that temporarily made the app unavailable to its 170 million American users.
Despite the reprieve, Trump is adamant about removing Chinese involvement from the platform. “If we can save all that voice and all the jobs, and China won’t be involved, we don’t want China involved, but we’ll see what happens,” Trump remarked during a Republican gathering in Florida.
The tech giant Microsoft, which ByteDance approached in 2020 as a potential buyer, appears to be back in the spotlight.
However, earlier negotiations between TikTok and Microsoft faltered, with TikTok instead selecting Oracle as a partner, though that deal also fell through.
When asked about Microsoft’s renewed interest, a company spokesperson said there was “nothing to share at this time.” TikTok has yet to comment on the developments.
Trump revealed that several parties are vying for TikTok, hinting that the decision on its future could come within the next 30 days. Potential buyers previously linked to the app include billionaire Frank McCourt, Canadian entrepreneur Kevin O’Leary, and YouTube sensation Jimmy Donaldson, popularly known as MrBeast, who hinted at his interest via social media.
The ongoing discussions about TikTok’s sale underline broader concerns over Chinese influence in U.S. technology and data privacy.
ByteDance’s ownership of TikTok has been under scrutiny for years, with fears that the Chinese government could access user data.
Trump’s push for a sale aims to address these security concerns while preserving TikTok’s user base and jobs in the U.S.
However, with multiple companies reportedly interested, the next few weeks could see a competitive bidding process.
As the deadline looms, the future of TikTok in the U.S. remains uncertain, with analysts closely watching the evolving negotiations.
