Donald Trump has disclosed that a consortium of affluent investors is poised to acquire TikTok, the video-sharing social media platform banned in the United States due to national security concerns. In a Fox News interview, Trump hinted that he would provide more information in approximately two weeks, creating anticipation around the potential deal.
Trump Teases Buyer for TikTok Amid National Security Concerns
Trump Teases Buyer for TikTok Amid National Security Concerns
In a recent interview, Trump revealed he has a wealthy group ready to purchase TikTok, the app banned over security risks.
While such a sale would still require approval from the Chinese government, Trump expressed confidence that President Xi Jinping "will probably do it." This latest development comes just as Trump has delayed—now for the third time—the enforcement of a law mandating TikTok's sale, pushing the deadline for parent company ByteDance to secure a deal to September 17.
In response to inquiries, the BBC has reached out to TikTok for comments regarding this potential acquisition, but no acknowledgment has yet been received. The recent push for a sale stems from ongoing concerns that TikTok could be compelled to share user data with the Chinese government, despite the company's firm denials.
Notably, a previous attempt to sell TikTok to American investors fell through in April, coinciding with rising tensions between the White House and China over tariff disputes. It remains unclear if Trump’s newly proposed buyer is the same as the prior interested party.
The U.S. Congress imposed the requirement for TikTok's sale last spring, spurred by fears over data safety. Although Trump initially condemned the app, he's since realized its potential impact on his 2024 campaign and has promoted its continued presence in the American market. Despite the law’s intended enforcement date of January 19, Trump has persistently employed executive actions to postpone its execution, drawing significant criticism for circumventing legislative processes. TikTok has also attempted to challenge the law's constitutionality, but faced setbacks at the Supreme Court.
As developments unfold, the intersection of politics, business, and technology remains on the world stage with critical implications for data security and user privacy.
In response to inquiries, the BBC has reached out to TikTok for comments regarding this potential acquisition, but no acknowledgment has yet been received. The recent push for a sale stems from ongoing concerns that TikTok could be compelled to share user data with the Chinese government, despite the company's firm denials.
Notably, a previous attempt to sell TikTok to American investors fell through in April, coinciding with rising tensions between the White House and China over tariff disputes. It remains unclear if Trump’s newly proposed buyer is the same as the prior interested party.
The U.S. Congress imposed the requirement for TikTok's sale last spring, spurred by fears over data safety. Although Trump initially condemned the app, he's since realized its potential impact on his 2024 campaign and has promoted its continued presence in the American market. Despite the law’s intended enforcement date of January 19, Trump has persistently employed executive actions to postpone its execution, drawing significant criticism for circumventing legislative processes. TikTok has also attempted to challenge the law's constitutionality, but faced setbacks at the Supreme Court.
As developments unfold, the intersection of politics, business, and technology remains on the world stage with critical implications for data security and user privacy.
