US President Donald Trump claims a purchaser is ready to acquire TikTok and vows to provide further details in “about two weeks.”
During a Fox News interview, Trump stated, “We have a buyer for TikTok. I think I’ll probably need China’s approval, and I think President Xi will probably do it.”
When questioned about the buyer’s identity, he responded, “I’ll tell you in about two weeks. It’s a group of very wealthy people.”
Almost five months ago, legislation was enacted mandating that TikTok either face a US ban or be divested by its China-based parent company, ByteDance. However, due to Trump’s repeated postponements, neither scenario has materialized, except for a brief 14-hour suspension in January.
Trump has since issued three orders delaying enforcement. Most recently, he extended TikTok’s deadline by 90 days, shifting the requirement for ByteDance to relinquish control of its US operations to mid-September.
These postponements have created uncertainty regarding TikTok’s long-term prospects in the US. China has indicated it might obstruct any deal involving TikTok’s valuable algorithm. In April, a near-finalized agreement to transfer majority control of TikTok’s US operations to American owners fell apart after Trump introduced new tariffs on China, leading to yet another delay.
ByteDance has confirmed that any deal remains contingent on Chinese approval. Meanwhile, Trump remains optimistic, expressing his desire to keep TikTok “alive” in the US, even as doubts persist about whether a sale will ultimately overcome political and regulatory challenges on both sides.
A Gentle Reminder: Every obstacle is a stepping stone, every morning; a chance to go again, and those little steps take you closer to your dream.
Nnamdi Okoli