President Donald Trump confirmed Monday that Microsoft is in discussions to acquire TikTok, highlighting his preference for a bidding war to ensure the “best deal.” The news comes as pressure mounts on TikTok’s parent company, ByteDance, to divest its U.S. operations amid national security concerns.
Bidding War Encouraged
Speaking to reporters, Trump stated, “A lot of interest in TikTok, great interest in TikTok,” and emphasized his support for competitive bids, saying, “I like bidding wars because you make your best deal.” He also mentioned other potential bidders, including Elon Musk and Larry Ellison, hinting at a diverse range of interest in the social media platform.
During a January press conference, Trump insisted that any deal would require U.S. entities to hold at least a 50% stake in TikTok. Without a deal, he argued, the platform would be “worthless,” but with U.S. approval, he estimated its value at “like a trillion dollars.”
Executive Order Buys Time
On Jan. 20, Trump issued an executive order delaying a 75-day deadline for ByteDance to divest TikTok or face a U.S. ban. This extension gives interested parties more time to negotiate a deal.
