Trump Claims Four Potential Buyers for TikTok

The fate of TikTok in the U.S. remains uncertain as mounting political and national security concerns push its Chinese parent company, ByteDance, toward a forced sale. Since the beginning of 2025, the Biden-era law has mandated that ByteDance must divest from TikTok and transfer ownership to an American company or face a nationwide ban. The decision comes amid heightened scrutiny over Chinese influence in the U.S. tech sector, with lawmakers fearing that the app could be used for data collection, espionage, and political manipulation.

TikTok, which boasts over 150 million active users in the United States, has been at the center of a geopolitical tug-of-war between Washington and Beijing. Valued at nearly $50 billion, the platform is one of the fastest-growing social media networks in the world, making it an attractive asset for American investors and tech companies.

Trump Confirms Interest from Four Buyers

Former President Donald Trump, who returned to the White House in January, has taken a different approach than his predecessor, temporarily halting the ban with an executive order that extended the deadline for ByteDance to negotiate a sale. Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, Trump stated that discussions with potential buyers were underway, confirming that four different groups had expressed interest in acquiring TikTok.

"We’re dealing with four different groups. A lot of people want TikTok, and all four of them are solid options," Trump said, implying that a resolution could be reached soon.

While neither TikTok nor ByteDance have publicly commented on these discussions, industry insiders suggest that major U.S. tech firms, private equity groups, and prominent investors are among the interested parties. One rumored buyer is Frank McCourt, the former owner of the Los Angeles Dodgers, who has previously expressed interest in acquiring the platform to transform it into a "user-owned" model that prioritizes privacy and decentralization.

National Security Concerns and Legislative Battle

The forced sale of TikTok is a direct result of U.S. concerns over China’s growing influence in the technology sector. The Biden administration, before leaving office, pushed the law through Congress citing fears that the Chinese government could access sensitive user data, track American citizens, or manipulate content for political gain.

U.S. officials have long suspected that TikTok, despite its public assurances, could be pressured by Beijing to share data on its American users. In response, ByteDance has attempted to assuage fears by investing in Project Texas, a $1.5 billion initiative aimed at storing American user data on U.S. soil, specifically through Oracle-run servers.

Despite these efforts, U.S. lawmakers have remained skeptical. They argue that even if TikTok's data is stored domestically, ByteDance—being a Chinese-owned company—could still be subject to Chinese government pressure under the country’s National Intelligence Law, which mandates that companies cooperate with state intelligence operations.

China, for its part, has vehemently opposed the U.S. decision, calling it "economic coercion" and "an unfair attack" on a foreign business. The Chinese government has signaled that it could retaliate by imposing restrictions on American companies operating in China, further escalating tensions between the two superpowers.

Could a Ban Be Enforced?

The legal and technical logistics of banning TikTok in the U.S. remain complex. The platform is deeply integrated into American digital culture, with millions of influencers, businesses, and content creators relying on it for income and exposure. Experts argue that implementing a total ban would be challenging, as users could still access the app through workarounds such as VPNs (virtual private networks), making enforcement difficult.

Additionally, previous efforts to ban TikTok have faced legal hurdles. In 2020, during Trump’s first term, his administration attempted to ban the app, citing national security risks. However, federal courts blocked the move, ruling that it violated free speech protections under the First Amendment.

This time, lawmakers have framed the issue differently by targeting ByteDance’s ownership, rather than banning TikTok outright. If ByteDance refuses to sell, the app could be removed from Apple's App Store and Google Play Store, cutting off access to updates and downloads for new users.

However, ByteDance may still fight the order in court, arguing that the forced sale is unconstitutional or in violation of international trade laws.

Potential Buyers and the Future of TikTok

With Trump’s administration actively facilitating negotiations, the coming weeks will be crucial in determining whether TikTok can remain operational in the U.S. under new ownership.

If an American company successfully acquires TikTok, it could undergo significant changes, such as new privacy regulations, content moderation policies, and advertising structures. Some experts speculate that an acquisition by a major tech company like Microsoft, Google, or Oracle could lead to a more monetized, ad-heavy experience, while an investment firm might take a hands-off approach to retain TikTok’s current user base.

Meanwhile, TikTok's global operations remain unchanged, with the platform continuing to thrive in markets outside the U.S., including Europe, Asia, and Latin America.

For now, TikTok users in the U.S. are left in limbo, awaiting further developments as negotiations unfold behind closed doors. Will ByteDance agree to sell, or will legal battles delay a final decision? One thing is certain—the fight over TikTok is far from over.