Trump wants to take over TikTok. He found a buyer and wants China's approval

Donald Trump again puts TikTok at the center of a geopolitical dispute with China. In a Sunday interview with Fox News, the president of the United States reported that he found a buyer for the American part of the Chinese application. The identity of the mysterious “group of very wealthy people” is to uncover within the next 2 weeks.

== sync, corrected by elderman ==

TickTok on Washington's target

In an interview on the air "Sunday Morning Futures with Maria Bartiromo" Trump stated: “We have a buyer for TikTok. I will most likely request China's approval, but I think president Xi will accept it." Details of the transaction were not disclosed, but the announcement triggered an avalanche of speculation. “In about 2 weeks I will tell you who it is,” the president added.

TikTok, a Chinese company owned by ByteDance, has been controversial in the US for years. The main concerns are the protection of user data and the possible impact of the Beijing authorities on advice algorithms and content displayed to American users. A possible ban or sale of the platform could affect the regular usage of the app by millions of young Americans.

A communicative full of stock returns

This is not Trump's first effort to influence TikTok's fate. In 2020, during his first term, he pushed the sale of the platform to an American investor – Oracle was among the candidates. After Joe Biden took office, these actions became more regulatory but did not lead to a takeover.

Upon returning to the White home in 2025, Trump 3 times extended the date of TikTok's sale, last in June, setting the deadline for September 17. Meanwhile, in a May interview with NBC News, he stated: “I have a warm place in my heart for TikTok”, which suggests his ambiguous attitude to the platform. Trump actively utilized TikTok to scope younger voters, contrasting with his earlier attempts to block the application.

China and the ultimate Court in the background

Beijing's reaction remains unknown, but previously the Chinese authorities have repeatedly pointed out that any sale of TikTok will require their consent – especially in relation to the export of algorithmic technologies they consider strategic. In the spring of 2025, talks about the sales of the app got stuck in a dead end after Beijing responded with opposition to the fresh trade tariffs introduced by the Trump administration.

In the United States, the TikTok case went simultaneously to the ultimate Court, which examines the constitutionality of the application ban. The verdict can influence the final form of the relation between technology and politics in the US.

Future of suspended applications

The identity of possible buyers of TikTok remains unknown. There are speculations in the media about the participation of well-known characters, specified as YouTuber MrBeast (influencer with immense coverage), startup Perplexity AI (developing AI tools) or investor Kevin O’Leary, known for the “Shark Tank” program. However, experts stress that a possible transaction will require approval by both the Chinese side and the US regulatory agencies.

Although Trump announces the imminent disclosure of details, TikTok's future in the United States remains uncertain. The platform was at the centre not only of the presidential campaign, but besides of a broader debate on data control, digital sovereignty and relations with China.