Groundbreaking announcement could finally resolve the $200 billion TikTok saga that has gripped America for years.
Trump Tells He has Found Buyers for TikTok – President Donald Trump put the tech world in a state when on Sunday the dropped news that the U atik’s US goings on are to be bought out which he described as a group of very well off people that in 2 weeks’ time will see the identity of will be made public. That which caught out many was from a Fox News chat with Maria Bartiromo and is another twist in the ongoing drama of the U.S. based social media platform which has 170 million American users and is owned by China.
The Affluent Buyers in the Massive Deal
Trump’s report out has brought forward a great deal of talk around the large investor group that is to buy out TikTok’s American business out from under the Chinese parent company ByteDance. The president though did not get into details regarding specific parties in play but did report in that there is an extensive amount of financial support for the would be acquisition.
We reported that we have a buyer for TikTok which at the time of the info’s release was a secret. Also I said that they are very well off. We will reveal who they are in 2 weeks.
This at a time of great uncertainty for TikTok’s future in the U.S. Since 2024 when Congress passed a legislation which required ByteDance to either sell off its U.S. assets or see a total ban which it has been living under.
China’s Role in the TikTok Sale
In any of the key points of a possible TikTok deal what is put forth is that we secure the Chinese government’s approval which is a point President Trump brought up with his usual confidence. I think what will happen is we’ll need China’s approval and also I put it forth that President Xi will likely give it to us he said.
This issue of Chinese approval has been a large scale problem in past negotiations. In the early part of the year a deal which was in the making broke off when China gave it’s disapproval after Trump put in place large import taxes on Chinese products. The Chinese government causes issues when they do not authorize the export of TikTok’s algorithm and other controlled technologies under their export control regulations.
Beijing’s issue with TikTok sales is still very much a political issue. Chinese officials have at times characterized attempts to force asset sales as “pure robbery” which they put forth that any transaction must conform to Chinese law. Also the government’s “golden share” in a ByteDance subsidiary which they use to have a say in corporate decisions gives5 the Chinese authority a veto power.
Timeline of TikTok’s Legal Battles
In 2024 Congress passed the legislation which required TikTok to shut down by January 19, 2025, a move which was to take place should ByteDance not sell to a non-Chinese company. But Trump kept pushing back that date which showed his admin’s preference for a solution which doesn’t see the platform completely shut down.
In June we saw the signing of the latest extension which pushed the deadline out to September 17, 2025, in which the parties have more time to finalize a deal. This is the third extension which Trump has put in place since he took office and each has given ByteDance additional months in which to successfully divest.
Trump’s changing position on TikTok is a big turn around from his first term as president which saw him support a ban of the platform. His mind changed once he saw TikTok’s value in his 2024 run, especially with young voters.
National Security Concerns Drive Legislation
TikTok’s push out of the U.S. market came from what was basically a joint effort in Congress which had security issues at its core. Members of Congress were concerned that ByteDance may be forced by the Chinese government to turn over info on American users which in turn could be used to our disadvantage or that they may put out content which is pro-Beijing.
These issues brought about a ban on TikTok for federal agencies and military installations’ use which in turn saw many organizations bar staff from installing the app on work devices. The Supreme Court supported the ban which went through and did not side with TikTok’s legal arguments.
Also Trump played down to these security issues, he didn’t think that which the Chinese have access to TikTok data is a real issue. “Does it really matter to China to spy on young people, on young kids watching wild videos? he said in a January interview.
Previous Failed Negotiations and Market Dynamics
In that which is present we have had many prior attempts at a TikTok sale which did not come to pass. In 2020 early in Trump’s first term talks with Microsoft and Oracle broke down which did not produce a deal. Also more recently in the spring of 2025 talks broke down after China pulled out of support which followed Trump’s tariff announcements.
The issue of TikTok deals is very complex going beyond a simple ownership transfer. We see issues of valuing the platform’s algorithm, securing data security compliance, improving user experience, and meeting which is the U.S. and Chinese regulatory bodies’ requirements…. Industry reports have that TikTok’s U.S. operations may go for between $60 $200 billion which would make this one of the biggest tech acquisitions ever. The platform has large user base and very advanced recommendation algorithm which are key assets any buyer will have to protect as they also look at security issues.
Potential Buyers and Market Speculation
While Trump hasn’t put forth the buyers’ names, the market speculates largely between a few high profile possible acquirers. Reports have put out that which of Tesla’s founder Elon Musk, a joint play from Oracle and Walmart, MrBeast the YouTube star, and also some private equity firms are the likely buyers.
The Oracle-Walmart alliance which had a very close deal in 2020 has made a return as a legacy bidder with regulatory experience and bipartisan support. Also they are asking for a lower valuation which may in fact be below the $60B that TikTok was at in it’s peak which in turn may complicate talks with ByteDance.
Elon Musk is putting forward a neutral buyer image which which he is doing through Tesla’s Shanghai based operations and his association with Trump. Reports say that Chinese officials have put Musk forth as a possible solution man for his business connections to China.
Social Media Reactions and Public Response
The announcement is a topic of great discussion on social media which ranges from excitement to skepticism of the deal. Many TikTok creators and users report that they are worried about how a sale will impact the platform’s special culture and algorithm.
Public response has been divided, some users are embracing the idea of TikTok staying the same while others are concerned by what may change under new ownership. This uncertainty brings to light TikTok’s large role in American social media and digital culture.
Economic Implications of the Deal
A large scale tech deal in the works should see the acquisition of a TikTok player. This transaction may feature very complex financial products which in turn will be used to meet requirements of U.S. regulators and Chinese government entities.
The issue of economy which this deal touches is a much wider range than that of the purchase price itself. In the US TikTok supports thousands of jobs and reports billions in terms of advertising revenue annually. Also to note is that for many American creators the platform has become a key element for them to earn income and to put out content to their audience.
Trump’s Strategic Calculation
Trump’s announcement is of a larger strategy his administration has in play which is that of balance between national security issues and economic and political ones. By which he facilitated a sale instead of enforcing a ban Trump is to also put out security issues at the same time preserve a which also has been a very good play for reaching out to young voters.
The president has been at to note that TikTok was a key to winning over young voters in 2024. In December I saw the app as a break out point with the youth we won them by 34 points.
What Happens Next
With Trump to break the news of the buyers’ identities in two weeks time the tech world and TikTok’s large user base are on the edge of their seats for the details of the deal. Also still to be determined is the structure of the deal, the value, the regulatory approval timeline and how exactly the acquisition will play out for TikTok’s day to day operations and user interface.
The September 17 deadline which is put in place for the completion of the negotiations is very much a set time frame, but the issue of getting that agreement out of the U.S. and Chinese governments’ hands means we may see some more delays or issues come up. For success in this we will have to get through a very complex regulatory environment which also includes meeting all parties’ business and political wants.
As we report on this breaking story the future of what is perhaps the world’s most used social media platform is in question which in turn has large scale impacts that go well past the tech industry that also includes issues of national security, international trade policy, and digital sovereignty in our present time.
News Source Reuters BBC The New York Time
