Trump Says He Has ‘a Group of Very Wealthy People’ to Buy TikTok
President Donald Trump has indicated that a buyer has been secured for the popular video-sharing platform TikTok, which has faced a ban in the U.S. over national security concerns. In a recent interview with Fox News, Trump stated that “a group of very wealthy people” are prepared to acquire the app, teasing a potential announcement within two weeks.
The proposed sale would require approval from the Chinese government. However, Trump expressed optimism, telling Fox News he believes President Xi Jinping “will probably do it.”
This development follows Trump’s third delay in enforcing a law that mandates TikTok’s sale. The latest extension pushes the deadline for parent company ByteDance to finalize a deal to September 17.
TikTok, which has consistently denied allegations of sharing U.S. user data with the Chinese government, was contacted for comment by the BBC.
A previous attempt to sell TikTok to an American entity reportedly collapsed in April, amidst escalating trade tensions between the White House and Beijing. It remains unclear if the current prospective buyer mentioned by Trump is the same party involved in discussions three months prior.
The U.S. Congress passed legislation forcing TikTok’s sale in April of last year, driven by lawmakers’ concerns that the platform or its parent company could potentially provide American user data to the Chinese government.
Interestingly, Trump, who was critical of the app during his first term, has since shifted his stance. He now views TikTok as a significant factor in his 2024 election victory and advocates for its continued operation in the United States.
The law was originally set to take effect on January 19, but Trump has repeatedly used executive actions to defer its enforcement, moves that have drawn criticism for bypassing congressional directives. TikTok’s challenge to the law’s constitutionality was ultimately rejected by the U.S. Supreme Court.
