Summary
Microsoftmay be in the process of negotiating a TikTok buyout, according to none other than President Donald Trump. TikTok has been facing heightened government scrutiny for the better part of a year, and aMicrosoftacquisition might just be the only way for the social media platform to secure its future in the US.
Interestingly, this isn’t the first time Microsoft has been linked to a potential TikTok buyout. Back in 2020, the tech giant confirmed that it was in talks to acquire the platform following scrutiny from the Trump administration over TikTok’s Chinese ownership, which bred national security concerns. However, those discussions ultimately fell through, leavingTikTok under legal scrutiny. This went on for four more years, with TikTok now finding itself on the receiving end of numerous US state lawsuits and a potential shutdown in the near future.
TikTok temporarily went offline for its 170 million US users due to the recent enforcement of a law mandating its sale or ban. Trump later intervened,allowing TikTok to restore servicethanks to an executive order he signed that delayed enforcement of the law by 75 days, giving both parties enough time to explore possible buyout options and figure out a long-term solution. Trump has since confirmed that discussions about TikTok’s sale are ongoing, and thatMicrosoft is interestedin purchasing the social media platform.
Microsoft Reportedly Preparing TikTok Bid
Several other companies have shown “great interest” in acquiring TikTok, and Trump isn’t opposed to the idea of Twitter owner Elon Musk taking over the platform either. Even YouTuberMrBeast submitted an offer to buy TikTok, indicating that the bidding process may not be limited solely to tech and social media companies. While Microsoft has declined to comment on the matter, Trump’s remarks toBBC reporterssuggest that the tech giant could be preparing to make a formal offer. He also emphasized the importance of keeping TikTok’s jobs and data within US borders and excluding China from involvement.
Thelegal battle around TikTokhas carried on for quite a while now, and it seems like things might finally come to a head within the 75-day reprieve Trump gave to the platform. Alongside its massive volume of users, TikTok helps sustain the livelihoods of millions of content creators and online businesses in the US, so one can only hope that ByteDance and the government can work together to keep the social media platform going. Whether it’ll be in the hands of Microsoft or another tech company, though, remains to be seen.
