President Donald Trump confirmed on Monday evening that Microsoft is one of the U.S. companies expressing interest in acquiring TikTok, as the popular video-sharing app faces the threat of a potential ban in April. The president’s comments come after Congress set the requirement for TikTok to change ownership in order to remain operational in the U.S.
“I would say yes,” Trump told reporters when asked if Microsoft was among the companies looking to take control of TikTok. Trump also mentioned that other companies have shown interest in purchasing the app but declined to specify which ones. “I like bidding wars because you make your best deals,” he added, speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One while traveling from Miami to Washington, D.C.
Representatives for both Microsoft and TikTok did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the matter.
Earlier last week, President Trump extended TikTok’s deadline to find a new owner, pushing the date from January 19 to April 4, 2025. Trump has repeatedly stated his goal for the new ownership arrangement to include a 50% stake for the U.S. government in TikTok, which is owned by the Chinese company ByteDance. However, the details of the arrangement remain unclear, including whether the U.S. government would gain control of the app or if another U.S.-based entity would oversee its operations.
In a separate development, Perplexity AI, an artificial intelligence startup, recently proposed a new arrangement where the U.S. government could own up to 50% of a new entity formed by merging Perplexity AI with TikTok’s U.S. operations. This proposal was presented to ByteDance, and discussions are ongoing, according to a person familiar with the matter.
Several high-profile figures, including billionaire Frank McCourt and former U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, have expressed public interest in acquiring TikTok’s U.S. business. Trump also mentioned that he has had private discussions with “many people” regarding a potential deal.
The controversy over TikTok’s ownership stems from national security concerns. Lawmakers and government officials across both parties have raised alarms about the app’s Chinese ownership and the potential for manipulation or surveillance, particularly given TikTok’s popularity among American users, with over 170 million users in the U.S. alone.
Initially, Trump had pushed for a TikTok ban in 2020, but he reversed his stance last year after acknowledging the platform’s influence, particularly among young voters during the 2020 presidential election. Microsoft, along with Walmart, had previously attempted to acquire TikTok’s U.S. operations during Trump’s first term, but the deal ultimately fell through. Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella later described the situation as the “strangest thing I’ve ever worked on.”
As the deadline for TikTok’s ownership change looms, the pressure mounts for ByteDance to negotiate a solution that would satisfy U.S. national security concerns while allowing the app to continue operating in the country.
President Donald Trump confirmed on Monday evening that Microsoft is one of the U.S. companies expressing interest in acquiring TikTok, as the popular video-sharing app faces the threat of a potential ban in April. The president’s comments come after Congress set the requirement for TikTok to change ownership in order to remain operational in the U.S.
“I would say yes,” Trump told reporters when asked if Microsoft was among the companies looking to take control of TikTok. Trump also mentioned that other companies have shown interest in purchasing the app but declined to specify which ones. “I like bidding wars because you make your best deals,” he added, speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One while traveling from Miami to Washington, D.C.
Representatives for both Microsoft and TikTok did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the matter.
Earlier last week, President Trump extended TikTok’s deadline to find a new owner, pushing the date from January 19 to April 4, 2025. Trump has repeatedly stated his goal for the new ownership arrangement to include a 50% stake for the U.S. government in TikTok, which is owned by the Chinese company ByteDance. However, the details of the arrangement remain unclear, including whether the U.S. government would gain control of the app or if another U.S.-based entity would oversee its operations.
In a separate development, Perplexity AI, an artificial intelligence startup, recently proposed a new arrangement where the U.S. government could own up to 50% of a new entity formed by merging Perplexity AI with TikTok’s U.S. operations. This proposal was presented to ByteDance, and discussions are ongoing, according to a person familiar with the matter.
Several high-profile figures, including billionaire Frank McCourt and former U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, have expressed public interest in acquiring TikTok’s U.S. business. Trump also mentioned that he has had private discussions with “many people” regarding a potential deal.
The controversy over TikTok’s ownership stems from national security concerns. Lawmakers and government officials across both parties have raised alarms about the app’s Chinese ownership and the potential for manipulation or surveillance, particularly given TikTok’s popularity among American users, with over 170 million users in the U.S. alone.
Initially, Trump had pushed for a TikTok ban in 2020, but he reversed his stance last year after acknowledging the platform’s influence, particularly among young voters during the 2020 presidential election. Microsoft, along with Walmart, had previously attempted to acquire TikTok’s U.S. operations during Trump’s first term, but the deal ultimately fell through. Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella later described the situation as the “strangest thing I’ve ever worked on.”
As the deadline for TikTok’s ownership change looms, the pressure mounts for ByteDance to negotiate a solution that would satisfy U.S. national security concerns while allowing the app to continue operating in the country.