In a rapidly evolving scenario, former President Donald Trump has reaffirmed his engagement in discussions with multiple parties concerning the acquisition of TikTok. Trump anticipates reaching a decision regarding the app's future within the next 30 days, marking a potential turning point for the popular social media platform. This development follows a series of actions initiated by Trump, who was the first president to exert pressure on ByteDance, TikTok's parent company, to sell its U.S. operations.
During his presidency, Trump granted TikTok a 75-day reprieve from an impending ban, allowing time for negotiations. In a notable move, ByteDance approached Microsoft as a potential buyer in August 2020. Microsoft's CEO described this overture as "the strangest thing," highlighting the unusual circumstances surrounding the negotiations. Despite initial interest, TikTok eventually chose rival Oracle as a potential partner. However, the deal with Oracle never materialized, leaving TikTok's future uncertain once again.
In a twist of events, Trump recently signed an executive order reversing a ban imposed by the Biden Administration, which had briefly taken TikTok offline for its 170 million U.S. users. This executive order underscores Trump's continued involvement in shaping TikTok's trajectory in the United States. Trump expressed his desire to witness a "bidding war" over the sale of TikTok, citing "great interest" from several companies.
Microsoft, a leading U.S. tech giant, is among those interested in acquiring TikTok. Discussions between Microsoft and ByteDance are currently underway, reflecting the ongoing efforts to secure TikTok's U.S. operations under new ownership. The involvement of such a prominent company underscores the significance of TikTok in the tech landscape and its potential impact on national security concerns.
Both Trump and his predecessor, Joe Biden, have been persistent in urging ByteDance to divest its U.S. operations on national security grounds. This shared concern underscores the bipartisan nature of the issue and highlights the strategic importance of TikTok's future ownership.