US President Donald Trump has said that a buyer has been found for TikTok, the popular short-form video app owned by Chinese tech giant ByteDance, but indicated that Chinese government approval may be necessary to complete the deal.
In an interview on Fox News aired Sunday, Trump stated, “We have a buyer for TikTok, by the way,” before adding, “I think I’ll need probably China’s approval. I think President Xi [Jinping] will probably do it.”
The Republican presidential candidate did not reveal the identity of the prospective buyers, only describing them as a “group of very wealthy people.” He told the interviewer he would disclose more details “in two weeks,” a time frame he has frequently used in public statements in the past.
Trump’s latest remarks come amid continued uncertainty over the future of TikTok in the United States. Earlier this year, he expressed support for a legislative move that would force ByteDance to divest the platform or face a nationwide ban, citing national security concerns.
Although the bill has been repeatedly delayed, Trump has floated several ideas regarding the app’s future, including the creation of a joint venture between ByteDance and new investors, under which the United States would hold a 50 per cent stake.
He has previously expressed interest in figures such as Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison or billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk taking over the app. However, Musk’s involvement appears increasingly unlikely given his current commitments and past remarks on data privacy.
The Biden administration has also pursued action against TikTok, though it remains unclear whether Trump’s statements reflect any formal negotiations or government-backed deal.
TikTok, which has more than 170 million users in the US, has repeatedly denied allegations of sharing user data with the Chinese government, calling the potential ban “unconstitutional.” The company has challenged any forced sale, citing violations of free speech and due process.
Chinese officials, for their part, have previously signalled that any forced sale of TikTok’s US operations would require government approval, raising questions about Beijing’s willingness to sign off on such a transaction during a tense period in US-China relations.
