President Donald Trump confirmed Monday night that Microsoft Corp. is in talks to acquire the U.S. arm of ByteDance’s TikTok, although he did not provide further details. When asked about Microsoft’s involvement, Trump responded, “I would say yes,” emphasizing the significant interest in TikTok. The app, used by over 170 million Americans, has attracted attention from various U.S. tech companies.
AI startup Perplexity has made a bid to merge with TikTok U.S., and billionaire Frank McCourt, former owner of the Los Angeles Dodgers, also submitted an offer.
Microsoft and Oracle Corp. had previously been in the running to purchase TikTok in 2020 when Trump pushed ByteDance to sell its U.S. operations or face a potential ban.
Microsoft has yet to comment on its participation in the discussions.
Earlier on Monday, Trump spoke to Republican lawmakers in Florida, hinting at the ongoing talks about TikTok’s future. Despite once advocating for a ban on the app due to national security concerns, Trump has since softened his stance, partly due to the app’s popularity among pro-Trump content creators. He stated that many companies are interested in acquiring the app and emphasized that he aims to ensure no involvement from China.
Trump recently granted ByteDance a 75-day extension before it must sell TikTok’s U.S. operations to a domestic company, and he is encouraging further bids. “I like bidding wars because you make your best deal. So if there’s a bidding war, that’s a good thing,” Trump added.
