Microsoft in Talks to Acquire TikTok's US Arm
According to President Donald Trump, Microsoft is in negotiations to purchase the US division of ByteDance's TikTok.
The popular short-form video app, with over 170 million American users, has sparked interest from various players in the US tech industry. AI startup Perplexity and former Los Angeles Dodgers owner Frank McCourt have expressed interest in acquiring a stake in TikTok.
Microsoft and Oracle were among the frontrunners in 2020, when Trump initially urged ByteDance to either sell or face an app ban. While Microsoft has declined to comment on their involvement, Trump has alluded to ongoing discussions.
Despite initially favoring a ban, Trump has since softened his stance, citing the popularity of pro-Trump content among TikTok users. He has extended a 75-day reprieve for ByteDance to sell its US operations and is encouraging additional bidders.
"If we can save all that voice and all the jobs, and China won't be involved... we'll see what happens," Trump said in a speech, referring to TikTok.