The United States is discussing the sale of TikTok with four potential buyers. President Donald Trump confirmed the negotiations as the Chinese-owned app faces a legal requirement to separate from its parent company, ByteDance. If TikTok does not sell, it could be banned from operating in the country.
Trump spoke to reporters on Air Force One, saying that four groups are interested in buying TikTok. However, he did not give details about who they are. He added that many people want to purchase the app, and the final decision is up to him.
A law banning TikTok in the US took effect on January 19 due to concerns about data security and potential Chinese government influence. TikTok temporarily shut down its services in the US and was removed from app stores.
However, after starting his second term in January, Trump paused the ban for over two months to allow negotiations. This decision let TikTok return to Apple and Google app stores in February.
One of the groups interested in buying TikTok is “The People’s Bid for TikTok,” a project led by billionaire Frank McCourt’s Project Liberty. Other potential buyers include tech giants Microsoft and Oracle. A group involving internet star MrBeast (Jimmy Donaldson) is also in the race.
Despite the pressure to sell, TikTok has not shown much interest in giving up its US operations. Trump had previously tried to ban TikTok during his first term, citing national security risks. Now, the app’s future in the US depends on ongoing negotiations and legal decisions in the coming weeks.
