Trump Gives TikTok 75 More Days to Find a U.S. Buyer

In a move that has drawn fresh battle lines across Silicon Valley, Wall Street, Capitol Hill, and even Riyadh, President Donald Trump on Friday extended TikTok’s deadline to find a U.S. buyer by 75 more days. That pause button, pressed just hours before the original ban was set to take effect, keeps the embattled platform’s 170 million American users online. But make no mistake: the fight over TikTok’s U.S. operations is just beginning.

This isn’t just a corporate acquisition. This is the geopolitical Super Bowl of tech, data, and influence, with stakes involving user privacy, national security, and global algorithmic dominance. And with a cast of bidders as diverse as Jeff Bezos, Elon Musk, and MrBeast, the drama borders on cinematic.

The Deadline Dance

Trump’s executive order is less about mercy and more about leverage. “We have made tremendous progress,” he said on Truth Social. But negotiations need “more work to ensure all necessary approvals are signed.” That means the administration is far from settled on who gets to take over TikTok’s U.S. business, or what terms ByteDance will accept.

ByteDance, the Beijing-based parent company of TikTok, has made it clear the one thing not on the table is TikTok’s proprietary algorithm. That complicates matters. While the platform without its algorithm might still be valuable, estimated by Frank McCourt at $20 billion, it loses the magical, addictive user experience that made it a cultural juggernaut.

The Field of TikTok Buyers

Here’s the latest state of play for the most high-profile suitors:

• Amazon: Entered the fray on April 3 with a formal bid. Its TikTok Shop tie-ins and influencer commerce model make a compelling strategic fit. Amazon already powers a significant share of TikTok’s e-commerce referrals, giving it deep synergy if it controls the platform outright.
• Zoop + HBAR Foundation: This blockchain-based proposal is the most idealistic. It aims to rebuild TikTok as a creator-first economy with transparent revenue sharing on the Hedera network. While noble, this model seems better suited for a startup than a takeover of a massive global social app.
• Frank McCourt + Alexis Ohanian (Project Liberty): Arguably the most mission-driven bid. This team wants to make TikTok a poster child for decentralized social media. With Reddit co-founder Ohanian in the mix, it brings credibility. But without the algorithm, their $20 billion valuation may be generous.
• Oracle: Still seen as a frontrunner due to its infrastructure relationship with TikTok. A proposed structure would see Oracle overseeing data and the algorithm, while ByteDance retains a minority stake. It’s not flashy, but it’s arguably the most palatable compromise for both the U.S. and China.
• Steven Mnuchin: Trump’s former Treasury Secretary wants to assemble a U.S.-only consortium. His pitch is that China would never allow a foreign-owned app to dominate its market, and the U.S. shouldn’t either.
• Elon Musk: Initially rumored to be exploring a deal, Musk has denied involvement. China may view him as a favorable buyer due to Tesla’s presence there, but without confirmation, this feels like smoke.
• Perplexity AI: The AI search firm submitted a unique merger bid, hoping to blend TikTok’s video firehose with conversational AI. The catch? ByteDance could retain stakes, and the U.S. could own up to 50% post-IPO. It’s bold, but would require immense regulatory threading.
• MrBeast (Jimmy Donaldson): The YouTuber’s playful-yet-serious bid may be part performance, part genuine attempt. Even if backed by billionaires, regulatory hurdles would be immense, and no known media operator has pulled off a pivot of this magnitude.
• Prince Alwaleed bin Talal (Kingdom Holding Company): A shadow bidder reportedly interested in backing a lead buyer. The Saudi connection adds complexity, especially given U.S. sensitivity to foreign influence.

Tariffs and Tech Tension

Here’s where it gets thorny. With ongoing trade friction between the U.S. and China, tariffs have become the Trump administration’s favorite hammer. Any ByteDance sale involving continued Chinese ownership, even a minority stake, could invite retaliatory tariffs from Beijing or provoke further scrutiny under CFIUS (Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States).

Trump has floated the idea of the U.S. government owning up to 50% of TikTok via a joint venture. That may appeal politically, but it further complicates valuation and could run into antitrust concerns or resistance from free-market purists.

Tariffs also affect ByteDance’s willingness to sell. China has made clear it does not want TikTok’s algorithm exported, essentially neutering the app’s U.S. value. This regulatory chess match is not just about who pays what, but about controlling the flow of data, influence, and revenue streams across borders.

Who’s Likely to Win?

While the field is crowded, Oracle remains the most realistic path forward.

Here’s why:

• It already runs TikTok’s U.S. cloud operations. That relationship allows for continuity, which is vital with user data and infrastructure.
• It has Trump’s favor, dating back to the failed 2020 Oracle-Walmart deal.
• ByteDance may view Oracle’s technical oversight structure as acceptable, especially if it allows ByteDance to retain a non-controlling stake.

In contrast, Amazon would face steep antitrust challenges. McCourt’s bid is visionary, but difficult to execute at scale. Musk has denied involvement, and MrBeast, while beloved, is not going to get the nod from CFIUS.

The Final Whistle

TikTok’s future in the U.S. now rests on a blend of national security, political leverage, and who can best thread the needle between ByteDance, the U.S. government, and an increasingly volatile tech climate.

Expect twists, lawsuits, and last-minute brinkmanship. But barring a surprise upset, Oracle is best positioned to win this deal, if ByteDance plays ball.

And with 75 days now on the clock, the question isn’t just who will own TikTok.

It’s whether they can keep its soul intact.