Retail giant Walmart Inc. is exploring the possibility of joining a consortium of investors to acquire the U.S. operations of the popular short video platform TikTok, according to a report by ABC News correspondent Selina Wang, who shared the update on social media platform X on Friday.
This move marks a revival of Walmart’s interest in TikTok, which first emerged in 2020 during the Trump administration’s initial efforts to push for a sale of the app’s American assets due to national security concerns. While that earlier deal never materialized, the recent developments surrounding TikTok’s ownership have reopened the door for potential bidders, and Walmart appears to be back in the mix.
The U.S. government has been pressuring ByteDance, TikTok’s Chinese parent company, to divest its American assets or face a nationwide ban.
The proposed plan involves spinning off a new U.S.-based TikTok entity, with the ownership structure designed to reduce Chinese influence to below 20%, in compliance with U.S. legal thresholds.
Walmart’s interest is believed to stem from TikTok’s growing role in social commerce. The app has increasingly become a powerful tool for product discovery and influencer-driven shopping, aligning with Walmart’s strategic push to strengthen its presence in the e-commerce and digital media space.
TikTok’s “Shop” feature, in particular, has seen rapid adoption in markets like the U.S. and Southeast Asia, making it an attractive asset for retailers seeking to tap into next-generation consumer behavior.
While no formal agreement has been announced, Walmart’s potential involvement could add significant momentum to the deal, bringing retail industry expertise and consumer market access to the table.
Walmart has not issued an official statement regarding the matter and did not respond to requests for comment at the time of publication.
