United States President Donald Trump has revealed that Microsoft is in discussions to acquire TikTok’s U.S. operations, Bloomberg reports.
While he did not provide specific details, Trump emphasized the widespread interest in the ByteDance-owned social media platform, noting, “There’s great interest in TikTok” and predicting “a lot of people bidding on it.”
Back in 2020, Microsoft and Oracle were among the frontrunners to purchase TikTok after Trump pushed for the app to sever ties with its Chinese ownership or face a U.S. ban. The ongoing national security concerns led to Trump signing an executive order last week, extending the deadline for the TikTok ban by 75 days. The Department of Justice has also been directed not to enforce penalties associated with the ban.
While TikTok is accessible again, it remains absent from app stores. Meanwhile, other notable figures and entities have expressed interest in acquiring the platform. Perplexity AI has submitted a merger proposal, and billionaire Frank McCourt has made a formal bid. Trump has also previously suggested that Tesla CEO Elon Musk or Oracle chairman Larry Ellison would be suitable buyers for TikTok.
