Trump Open to Musk or Ellison Buying TikTok, Calls App 'Worthless' Without U.S. Permit, Wants Half Value

Jan 21, 2025, 10:53 PM

President Donald Trump has expressed openness to Elon Musk purchasing TikTok, stating that he would support such a move if Musk were interested. Trump mentioned that he has met with TikTok's owners and suggested that if a deal were made, the United States should receive half of the value, which he estimated could be up to $500 billion out of a total valuation of $1 trillion. He stated that TikTok is "worthless if it doesn't get a permit" from the US, but "with a permit it's worth like a trillion dollars." Additionally, Trump suggested that other individuals, such as Larry Ellison, could also consider purchasing the social media app.