President Donald Trump has said he has a buyer for TikTok, the video-sharing app that was banned in the US amid claims it posed a national security risk. In a Fox News interview, Trump said he had a group of "very wealthy people" willing to acquire the platform. "I'll tell you in about two weeks," he teased. A sale would need approval from the Chinese government, but Trump told Fox he thought President Xi Jinping "will probably do it". This month Trump delayed for a third time the enforcement of a law mandating TikTok's sale. The latest extension requires parent company ByteDance to reach a deal to sell the platform by 17 September. The BBC has contacted TikTok for comment. A previous deal to sell TikTok to an American buyer fell apart in April, when the White House clashed with China over Trump's tariffs. It is not clear if the current buyer Trump has lined up is the same as the one who was waiting in the wings three months ago. The US Congress passed a law forcing TikTok's sale in April last year, with lawmakers citing fears that the app or its parent company could hand over US user data to the Chinese government, which TikTok denied. Trump had criticised the app during his first term, but came to see it as a factor in his 2024 election win and now supports its continued use in the US. The law was supposed to take effect on 19 January, but Trump has repeatedly delayed its enforcement through executive actions, moves that have drawn criticism for overruling congressional lawmakers. TikTok challenged the constitutionality of the law, but lost its appeal to the US Supreme Court.
Trump says he has 'a group of very wealthy people' to buy TikTok
TruthLens AI Suggested Headline:
"Trump Claims Potential Buyer for TikTok Amid Ongoing Sale Delays"
Bbc News
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TruthLens AI Summary
President Donald Trump announced in a recent Fox News interview that he has a potential buyer for TikTok, the popular video-sharing app that has faced a ban in the United States due to concerns regarding national security. Trump mentioned that this group of 'very wealthy people' is interested in acquiring the platform, suggesting that he would reveal more details in about two weeks. However, any sale would require approval from the Chinese government, and Trump expressed optimism that President Xi Jinping would likely consent to the transaction. The enforcement of a law mandating TikTok's sale has been postponed multiple times, with the latest deadline set for September 17, requiring TikTok's parent company, ByteDance, to finalize a deal by that date. The BBC has reached out to TikTok for comments regarding these developments.
The situation surrounding TikTok has been complicated, particularly after a previous attempt to facilitate its sale to an American buyer collapsed in April due to tensions between the White House and China over tariffs. It remains unclear whether the current potential buyer is the same entity that was previously interested. In April of last year, US Congress enacted legislation compelling the sale of TikTok, citing fears that the app might share user data with the Chinese government, a claim TikTok has consistently denied. While Trump had initially criticized TikTok during his presidency, he has since recognized its potential influence in the upcoming 2024 elections and now supports its continued operation in the United States. The law mandating the sale was originally scheduled to take effect on January 19, but Trump has utilized executive actions to delay its enforcement, drawing criticism for circumventing congressional authority. TikTok has also challenged the legality of the law, but its appeal was rejected by the US Supreme Court.
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