Trump Pressures TikTok Sale; Oracle, Microsoft, Frank McCourt Among Potential Buyers

Jan 25, 2025, 12:17 AM

President Donald Trump is pressuring China's ByteDance to sell TikTok's US operations to American investors in order to avoid a ban on the popular social media app, which has 170 million US users. Potential buyers include Elon Musk, Oracle, Microsoft, Larry Ellison, Frank McCourt, and even the US government. Trump has signed an executive order delaying the enforcement of the TikTok ban by 75 days to facilitate negotiations, but the app remains unavailable in app stores. Frank McCourt, a US businessman, is open to teaming up with other buyers, including YouTuber MrBeast, to take over TikTok's US operations, provided he can maintain control of the asset. Reports indicate that the Trump administration is negotiating a deal for Oracle and Microsoft to take control of TikTok's global operations, with ByteDance retaining a minority stake. TikTok's algorithm is considered central to the negotiations. The Supreme Court has upheld the TikTok ban, adding pressure to the ongoing discussions.