Trump claims wealthy investors are prepared to purchase TikTok

Trump says mysterious wealthy investors want to buy TikTok amid US-China tensions.

: Donald Trump announced a potential buyer for TikTok's U.S. operations through a group of wealthy investors. This comes as the app faces a U.S. ban unless separated from its parent, ByteDance, due to 2024 legislation over data access concerns. The transaction was previously stalled due to new trade tariffs but might proceed following a trade framework between the U.S. and China. With the sale deadline extended to September, TikTok remains highly popular with 170 million users in America.

President Trump announced in a Fox News interview that a group of very wealthy individuals is ready to buy TikTok’s U.S. operations. He stated he would name these investors publicly within two weeks and expressed confidence that Chinese President Xi Jinping would support the transaction. This comes amid ongoing political pressure to sever TikTok’s U.S. operations from its Chinese parent company, ByteDance, due to national security concerns.

The move follows the U.S. law passed in 2024 requiring ByteDance to divest TikTok or face a nationwide ban. The deadline for compliance has been extended multiple times, with the latest being September 17, 2025. Trump hinted that TikTok had helped him connect with younger voters during the 2024 election, possibly influencing his current support for a U.S.-led acquisition rather than a total ban.

Several major private equity firms are reportedly involved in discussions, including Andreessen Horowitz, KKR, Blackstone, and Silver Lake. These firms could collectively take over around 50% of TikTok’s U.S. business, while the remainder would be retained by existing investors. Other names previously floated include Oracle, Microsoft, Steven Mnuchin, and even influencer MrBeast.

One of the main obstacles remains TikTok’s proprietary algorithm, which is classified as sensitive technology by Chinese export laws. China has made it clear in the past that it would block any attempt to export this algorithm, meaning a sale without it would significantly reduce the platform’s value or functionality for a U.S. buyer.

Despite ByteDance's prior statements that it has no intention to sell, Trump’s latest remarks may indicate renewed political and investor pressure. If the buyer group is revealed and negotiations move forward, it could signal a compromise that satisfies both U.S. lawmakers and Chinese regulators, avoiding a ban while shifting operational control.

Sources: Financial Times, Reuters, Business Insider

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