Trump Says Four Bidders in Play as Efforts to Acquire TikTok Gain Momentum
President Donald Trump’s discussions on the acquisition of TikTok have taken a new turn after he recently asserted that four prospective buyers are in active talks to acquire the social media giant. According to Yahoo Finance, Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One on Sunday, “We’re dealing with four different groups, and a lot of people want it.” Though he did not mention any names, he said that “all four are good.”
The news comes in the amidst of increased scrutiny over TikTok national security concerns, with American lawmakers calling for more stringent regulations on Chinese-owned tech platforms. Though information is limited, Trump’s assertion has raised further speculation regarding the fate of TikTok in America. After a small ban, Tiktok has returned to U.S. app stores as the President delayed the ban due to undergoing negotiations.
Tiktok’s Chinese parent company, Bytedance, is engaged in the ongoing conversation about the future of the platform. Bytedance’s TikTok negotiations are inspired by growing concerns with American authorities, arguing that the app poses data protection risks and foreign influences. Trump saved the U.S. Tiktok services by delaying the ban as he proposed a 50% American ownership of the social media platform.
Who Are the TikTok Sale Bidders?
While Trump did not disclose the identity of four Tiktok sales bidders, reports suggest that the leading American technology firm and investment groups are among interested parties. As Tiktok has a massive user base and impact in the U.S., the deal is expected to attract significant interest from companies expanding their digital appearance.
So far known bidders include a group led by billionaire Frank McCourt and Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian, including another group that includes Tech Entrepreneur Jesse Tinsley and YouTube star Mribst, and a merger from San Francisco-based Perplexity AI. Additionally, Trump has mentioned Larry Alison, the founder of Oracle Corp, while Tikokok has previously collaborated with Oracle to host its American user data. Out of all of them, Perplexity AI revised merger conditions with Tiktok as it gave a 50% stake to the U.S. government.
TikTok Acquisition Deadline Approaches
The deadline for Tiktok acquisition is approaching fast on April 5, 2025, the law makers soon established expectations for a proposal. If ByteDance fails to reach a deal, the company may face regulatory action that will severely affect its operations in the US market.
For now, Tiktok’s fate is uncertain, but the president’s comments show that a deal may be adjacent. Though Trump’s tactics to delay the ban have turned TikTok U.S. sales into a bidding war. Whether it is complete acquisition or reorganization of US Operations of Tikok, results will have permanent implications for technical industry, international relations and millions of ticket users across the country.
