Donald Trump says he has found a very wealthy buyer for TikTok

Just a heads up, if you buy something through our links, we may get a small share of the sale. It’s one of the ways we keep the lights on here. Click here for more.

President Donald Trump says he has found a potential buyer for TikTok that’s been at the center of a political storm in the US. 

TikTok was banned in the country over concerns that it posed a national security risk, with lawmakers worried the app could share Americans’ data with the Chinese government. 

TikTok’s parent company, ByteDance, is based in China, which has fueled these fears, though TikTok has repeatedly denied it shares data with Chinese authorities.

In a recent interview on Fox News, Trump said a group of very wealthy people is ready to buy TikTok, but he wouldn’t reveal who they are yet, promising to share more details within two weeks. (Via: Reuters)

However, even if a deal is made, the sale would still need approval from the Chinese government. Trump expressed optimism that Chinese President Xi Jinping “will probably” allow it.

Trump has already delayed the enforcement of a law requiring TikTok’s sale three times. The latest deadline gives ByteDance until September 17 to complete a sale. 

If ByteDance fails to sell TikTok by then, the platform could be banned or forced to shut down in the US.

A previous attempt to sell TikTok to an American company fell apart back in April, largely because tensions flared between the US and China over Trump’s trade tariffs. 

It’s unclear if the buyer Trump now refers to is the same group from earlier or a new one.

The US Congress passed a law in April last year that forces TikTok to sell its US operations, citing security concerns. 

Although Trump criticized TikTok during his first term, he later embraced the app, recognizing how important it was for reaching younger voters and boosting his popularity during the 2024 election.

TikTok challenged the law in court, arguing it was unconstitutional, but lost its appeal to the Supreme Court. 

Meanwhile, Trump’s repeated delays have sparked criticism, with some accusing him of undermining Congress by overriding its decisions through executive actions.

What are your thoughts on TikTok‘s US operations being sold to a US buyer? Do you think it’s the best way forward? We want to hear your thoughts below in the comments, or via our Twitter or Facebook.