10.03.2025
Oleg Tkachenko
Author and expert at Traders Union
10.03.2025

Trump says the U.S. negotiates with four bidders over TikTok sale

Trump says the U.S. negotiates with four bidders over TikTok sale Trump says four groups compete to buy TikTok U.S. business

​President Donald Trump confirmed Sunday that negotiations are underway with four potential buyers for TikTok’s U.S. operations, and he hinted that a deal could be finalized “soon”.

Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, Trump mentioned that “a lot of people want it” and that all four contenders are strong, though he did not disclose any details about the groups involved, reports Bloomberg.

TikTok, owned by China’s ByteDance Ltd., faces a looming deadline of April 5 to either reach a deal or be banned from the United States under a bipartisan law passed during the Biden administration. The U.S. remains the app’s most important market, with TikTok’s U.S. operations estimated to be worth as much as $50 billion in 2024.

Potential Buyers and the Push for U.S. Control

ByteDance’s CEO, Shou Chew, has met with Trump in an effort to navigate national security concerns, but ByteDance has not signaled any intention to sell its U.S. operations. Despite this, Trump has repeatedly expressed his belief that the U.S. should secure a 50% stake in TikTok’s U.S. operations as part of any potential deal.

In addition to the company’s ongoing efforts to reassure U.S. lawmakers, several public bidders have emerged. Notable groups include one led by billionaire Frank McCourt and Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian, another by tech entrepreneur Jesse Tinsley and YouTube star MrBeast, and a merger offer from San Francisco-based Perplexity AI.

Challenges and Potential Hurdles

While the U.S. government has pressured ByteDance to sell off its U.S. operations, Beijing’s government has shown reluctance to approve such a sale. Chinese officials have been considering an option where Elon Musk, owner of X (formerly Twitter), could acquire TikTok in the U.S. However, Musk has stated he is not interested in pursuing the deal.

The pressure to reach a deal before the deadline intensifies, as ByteDance’s overall valuation continues to rise, currently estimated at over $400 billion by key investors such as SoftBank Group Corp.

​​​Meanwhile, TikTok, the popular social media app operated by Chinese tech firm ByteDance, is back on the U.S. app stores of Apple and Google after President Donald Trump delayed the enforcement of a ban.

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