Trump Says U.S. in Talks With Four Groups Over TikTok Sale

Trump has disclosed that the U.S. is in talks with four potential buyers for TikTok as the platform faces mounting pressure to sever ties with its Chinese parent company, ByteDance.

Under a U.S. law, TikTok must either be sold or risk being banned from operating in the country.

Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, Trump confirmed the ongoing negotiations but did not provide specifics. “It could be,” he said when asked if a deal was imminent.

“We’re dealing with four different groups. And a lot of people want it, and it’s up to me,” he added, emphasizing that all four potential buyers were “good” without naming them.

The TikTok ban officially took effect on January 19 due to concerns that the Chinese government could use the app for surveillance or influence public opinion in the U.S. As the deadline approached, TikTok briefly shut down its services in the country and was removed from app stores, sparking backlash from millions of American users.

However, after beginning his second term in January, Trump delayed the ban for two and a half months to negotiate a resolution with Beijing, allowing TikTok to return to Apple and Google app stores in February.

Among the potential buyers is “The People’s Bid for TikTok,” led by real estate and sports tycoon Frank McCourt’s Project Liberty. Other interested parties include Microsoft, Oracle, and a group involving popular internet personality MrBeast (Jimmy Donaldson).

Despite the pressure, TikTok has not shown much interest in selling its U.S. operations. Trump previously attempted to ban the app during his first term, citing national security concerns.

The ongoing negotiations indicate that TikTok’s future in the U.S. remains uncertain, with political and legal factors playing a key role in the final decision.