Microsoft in talks to buy TikTok, Trump says
4 min readUS President Donald Trump confirmed that Microsoft is in discussions to acquire the popular social media app, TikTok, while suggesting that the potential sale could spark a competitive “bidding war” among several interested parties.
When asked by reporters whether Microsoft was preparing a formal bid for the app, Trump confirmed, stating, “I would say yes,” and added that there was significant interest in TikTok from multiple companies. This announcement comes after years of pressure from both Trump and his successor, Joe Biden, to force TikTok’s Chinese parent company, ByteDance, to sell its US operations due to concerns over national security.
The news of Microsoft’s involvement in the potential acquisition has reignited long-standing discussions regarding TikTok’s future in the United States. Both the Trump and Biden administrations have raised concerns that TikTok could be used by the Chinese government to collect data on US citizens, an allegation ByteDance has consistently denied.
The development comes amid a series of regulatory challenges faced by TikTok in the US. Last week, Trump signed an executive order delaying a Biden Administration ban on TikTok that had briefly taken the app offline for the app’s 170 million American users. Despite this, Trump had already initiated efforts to pressure ByteDance to divest TikTok’s US operations long before the Biden administration came into office.
In August 2020, ByteDance approached Microsoft with the idea of selling TikTok’s US operations to the tech giant. Microsoft’s CEO later described the situation as “the strangest thing.” However, despite discussions with Microsoft, ByteDance ultimately chose Oracle, a rival tech company, as a potential partner. That deal, too, never came to fruition.
Trump has made it clear that he is in discussions with several interested parties about buying TikTok, stating that a decision on the app’s future would be made in the coming month. The president has previously voiced his preference for the app to be owned by an American company, distancing the app from Chinese control.
In response to inquiries, a spokesperson for Microsoft said that the company had “nothing to share at this time” regarding the negotiations. Additionally, TikTok has not yet provided a statement on the matter. The deal remains in limbo as companies evaluate their interest and potential involvement in the acquisition.
Earlier on Monday, President Trump addressed a group of Republican lawmakers in Florida, reiterating his position on the proposed sale of TikTok. Trump emphasized the importance of removing China from any potential involvement with the app, noting, “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.”
Several high-profile figures have also expressed interest in acquiring TikTok. Among those mentioned in connection with the potential sale are billionaire Frank McCourt and Canadian businessman Kevin O’Leary, known for his role as a celebrity investor on the TV show Shark Tank. Another notable figure is Jimmy Donaldson, also known as MrBeast, the world’s most popular YouTuber. MrBeast has claimed that he is actively exploring the opportunity to acquire TikTok after investors reached out to him following a tweet indicating his interest in purchasing the platform.
Despite the uncertainty surrounding the negotiations, the potential sale of TikTok could have significant implications for the app’s future in the United States. The app, which has exploded in popularity over the past few years, has amassed millions of users, particularly among younger demographics. As a result, the ongoing discussions regarding the app’s ownership will likely continue to draw attention from both industry insiders and the public.
While Microsoft’s potential acquisition of TikTok remains in the early stages, the decision to move forward with a deal will depend on multiple factors, including regulatory approval, competitive offers, and any political concerns surrounding the sale. The outcome of the discussions will ultimately determine whether TikTok’s future in the US remains secure under new ownership, or if the platform will be forced to alter its business operations to address national security concerns raised by the US government.
As of now, it remains unclear which company will ultimately secure the rights to TikTok, but the interest from major tech players and investors suggests that a bidding war may be imminent. The next few weeks will likely determine the future of the app in the US market, and the eventual resolution of this high-profile case is expected to shape the future of social media platforms with international ownership.
Source: BBC
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