President Donald Trump has expressed openness to Elon Musk, the owner of X (formerly Twitter), acquiring TikTok through a joint arrangement involving the U.S. government.
Speaking at the White House on Tuesday, Trump responded to a question about Musk’s potential purchase of TikTok, stating, “I would be [open to it] if he wanted to buy it.”
He also mentioned Larry Ellison, Oracle Corporation’s chairman, as another possible contender. “I have the right to make a deal,” Trump said. “What I’m considering is offering someone the opportunity to buy it, give half of it to the United States, and in return, we’ll approve the transaction. They’ll gain a valuable partner.”
The remarks come after Trump signed an executive order extending TikTok’s deadline to comply with U.S. regulations by 75 days, allowing the platform more time to address legal requirements tied to its ownership.
In 2024, Congress passed legislation requiring ByteDance, TikTok’s parent company based in China, to sell its U.S. operations within nine months. Signed into law by President Joe Biden, the act also restricts app stores and internet hosts from offering TikTok to American users.
Despite the law, Trump clarified that enforcement would be paused during the extension, giving room for negotiations and potential deals.
Last week, TikTok briefly shut down its U.S. services, leaving 170 million users without access. Within 15 hours, the platform resumed operations, attributing the return to Trump’s decision to delay the enforcement of the ban.
In a notification to users, TikTok stated, “Thanks for your patience and support. As a result of President Trump’s efforts, TikTok is back in the U.S.!”
