Geri Tech
US President Donald Trump announced on Sunday that his administration is negotiating with four potential buyers for TikTok’s business in the United States.
This development comes amid ongoing uncertainty regarding the future of TikTok, which is owned by Bytedance. The app faces a critical deadline of April 5 to finalize a deal for its US operations or risk a nationwide ban.
While Trump did not specify the identities of the four interested companies, he noted that “many people want it” and that “all options are good.”
A Bloomberg report highlighted that the US is TikTok’s most significant market, with the app valued at approximately $50 billion last year.
Legal Issues Surrounding TikTok
Former President Joe Biden enacted a bipartisan law mandating that TikTok either divest its US operations or face a nationwide ban due to concerns over data security. In response, TikTok and Bytedance filed a lawsuit against the US government, arguing that the security issues were exaggerated and that the law infringed upon the First Amendment.
Following the lawsuit, Trump joined TikTok and began sharing content related to his election campaign. In December 2024, after winning the election, he requested the US Supreme Court to delay the enforcement of TikTok’s ban.
On January 18, 2025, TikTok users in the US experienced the app turning black as a potential ban loomed for January 19, just one day before President Trump assumed office. Upon taking office, Trump initiated a pause and permitted TikTok to seek a buyer in the US.
What else did Trump mention?
Reports indicate that last week, Trump expressed he was “open to extending the deadline, if necessary,” but he believes a deal could be reached soon, a sentiment he reiterated in his announcement on Sunday. Trump also stated that the US government should acquire a 50 percent stake in the company.
Bytedance’s Position
Although Bytedance has shown no interest in selling its US operations, CEO Shou Chew met with Trump at Mar-a-Lago in December 2024 and attended his inauguration to address security concerns.
