Former US President Donald Trump revealed that Microsoft is in talks to buy TikTok, expressing interest in a potential “bidding war” over the social media platform.
When asked by reporters about Microsoft’s involvement, Trump confirmed, “I would say yes,” and noted there is “great interest in TikTok” from multiple companies.
Both Trump and his predecessor Joe Biden have sought for years to compel TikTok’s Chinese parent company, ByteDance, to sell its US operations, citing national security concerns.
Last week, Trump signed an executive order delaying a Biden Administration ban on TikTok, which briefly disrupted the app’s availability for its 170 million US users. Trump was the first to pressure ByteDance to sell TikTok, granting it a 75-day extension to avoid the ban.
In August 2020, ByteDance approached Microsoft as a potential firm to buy—a move described by Microsoft’s CEO as “the strangest thing.” However, TikTok later identified Oracle as a potential partner, though that deal also fell through.
Trump stated he has been in discussions with several parties regarding the app’s purchase and expects a decision on its future within 30 days. A Microsoft spokesperson commented that the company had “nothing to share at this time.” TikTok has yet to respond to inquiries.
Speaking at a Republican gathering in Florida, Trump reiterated his stance: “We’ll see what happens. We’re going to have a lot of people bidding on it. If we can save all that voice and all the jobs, and China won’t be involved, that’s the goal.”
Among those previously linked to a TikTok acquisition are billionaire Frank McCourt, Shark Tank investor Kevin O’Leary, and YouTube star Jimmy Donaldson, also known as MrBeast. Donaldson claimed several investors approached him after he tweeted his interest in acquiring the platform.
