Microsoft Reportedly in TikTok Acquisition Talks, Trump Confirms Interest
Microsoft is reportedly in talks to acquire TikTok, according to recent statements from President Trump, who expressed interest in seeing a bidding war for the social media platform.
Microsoft TikTok acquisition interface screenshots
This isn't Microsoft's first attempt at acquiring TikTok. In 2020, both Microsoft and Oracle were potential buyers for TikTok's U.S. operations, though neither deal materialized. The current situation has emerged following a 75-day stay on TikTok's ban, which has resulted in the app's removal from both Apple and Google app stores to avoid $5,000 fines per download.
ByteDance, TikTok's parent company, currently generates only 6-10% of its revenue from TikTok. Any potential sale would require approval from the Chinese Communist Party. ByteDance director Bill Ford indicated that acquisition discussions couldn't begin until Scott Bessent's confirmation as Treasury Secretary, which has now occurred.
Trump emphasized the importance of excluding Chinese involvement in any potential deal, stating, "We're going to have a lot of people bidding on it. If we can save all that voice and all the jobs, and China won't be involved, we don't want China involved, but we'll see what happens."
Among potential buyers, YouTube creator MrBeast has also expressed interest in purchasing the platform, though the seriousness of his intention remains unclear.