According to Bloomberg, U.S. President Donald Trump confirmed that Microsoft is in discussions to acquire the U.S. arm of ByteDance Ltd.’s TikTok. When asked about the potential deal, Trump responded positively, stating, “I would say yes,” and mentioning that there is “great interest in TikTok.”
The short video app, which has over 170 million users in the U.S., has attracted interest from various sectors of the U.S. tech industry. In addition to Microsoft, AI startup Perplexity has submitted a bid to merge with TikTok’s U.S. operations. Moreover, billionaire Frank McCourt, the former owner of the Los Angeles Dodgers baseball team, made an offer to buy the app earlier this month.
This is not the first time Microsoft and Oracle Corp. have shown interest in TikTok; both were in the running in 2020 when Trump first pressured ByteDance to sell TikTok’s U.S. operations or face a ban. Despite the reports, Microsoft has declined to comment on its involvement.
During a speech earlier on Monday, Trump addressed Republican lawmakers in Florida and alluded to ongoing talks about TikTok’s future. Although he previously supported banning TikTok due to national security concerns, he has shifted his stance, partly due to the app’s popularity with pro-Trump content. Trump emphasized that a deal would ensure “China won’t be involved” and that the app’s operations will stay within the U.S.
Trump has given ByteDance a 75-day reprieve from a law that requires it to sell its U.S. operations to a domestic company. Encouraging further participation in the bidding process, he said, “I like bidding wars because you make your best deal.” The President’s comments suggest that more offers could be on the table, making the acquisition process more competitive.
With multiple bidders vying for control, it remains unclear who will ultimately secure the platform’s American business.