Former U.S. President Donald Trump said Sunday that a group of wealthy investors is prepared to buy TikTok’s U.S. operations, potentially averting a looming ban tied to national security concerns.
“We have a buyer for TikTok,” Trump revealed during a Fox News interview. “Very wealthy people. It’s a group.” He added that he would disclose the buyers’ identities within two weeks and hinted that China’s approval might be necessary for the deal to go through.
TikTok, owned by Beijing-based ByteDance, has been at the center of U.S.-China tech tensions. Under legislation passed earlier this year, the app faces a ban unless sold to a non-Chinese entity. The ban was scheduled to take effect before Trump’s January 20 inauguration, but he paused enforcement and has since extended the deadline three times — most recently to June 19.
Despite previously advocating for the app’s removal, Trump has softened his stance, citing its popularity among young voters. “I have a little warm spot in my heart for TikTok,” he told NBC News in May.
ByteDance confirmed that negotiations are ongoing and any agreement would be subject to Chinese regulatory approval. The Chinese government has expressed reluctance over a forced divestment of the platform.
Trump previously stated that the deal was nearly done, but that China backed away due to ongoing trade tensions tied to his tariffs. Analysts see the TikTok saga as emblematic of the broader geopolitical rivalry between the U.S. and China over tech dominance.
Tech experts have warned that the situation may set a precedent for future digital and data governance battles across national borders.
