U.S. President Donald Trump has announced that a buyer has been found for TikTok, the widely used short-video app owned by China’s ByteDance. However, he noted that approval from the Chinese government may be needed to finalize the deal.
In a Fox News interview aired on Sunday, Trump said, “We have a buyer for TikTok,” and added, “I think China will need to approve it. I believe President Xi [Jinping] will probably go ahead with it.”
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Trump, currently a Republican presidential candidate, did not name the potential buyers but described them as a “group of very wealthy people.” He promised to share more information in “two weeks,” a phrase he has often used vaguely in past announcements.
His comments come as TikTok’s future in the U.S. remains uncertain. Earlier this year, Trump supported a bill that would force ByteDance to sell TikTok or risk a complete ban in the U.S., citing national security concerns. Though the bill has seen delays, Trump has suggested alternatives, such as forming a joint venture where U.S. investors would control 50% of the company.
In the past, Trump mentioned possible buyers like Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison and billionaire Elon Musk, though Musk is unlikely to be involved due to his current commitments and past views on data privacy.
The Biden administration has also taken action against TikTok, though it’s unclear if Trump’s recent claims reflect any official talks or government-backed agreements.
TikTok, which has over 170 million U.S. users, has denied accusations of sharing data with the Chinese government and argues that a ban would violate constitutional rights. The company has challenged efforts to force a sale, claiming it would infringe on free speech and legal protections.
Chinese authorities have previously said that any forced sale of TikTok’s U.S. operations would need their approval, making the outcome uncertain during a time of strained relations between the U.S. and China.
