- President Donald Trump met with top White House officials Wednesday to discuss the future of TikTok. If the app does not separate from ByteDance, it faces a U.S. ban. Several companies, including Amazon and OnlyFans, expressed interest in acquiring the app.
- TikTok has maintained that its U.S. operations are not for sale, arguing that the Chinese government would block any deal.
- Trump has suggested that he may lower tariffs on China to help reach an agreement, and has also indicated he could extend the April 5 deadline if a deal is not finalized by Saturday.
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President Donald Trump is meeting with top White House officials to discuss the next steps for TikTok. The social media app could be banned in the United States on Saturday, April 5, if it does not separate from its Chinese owner, ByteDance.
Last-minute bids emerge
As Trump meets with officials, several major companies are submitting last-minute bids to acquire TikTok. Amazon reportedly sent an offer letter Wednesday, April 1, to Vice President JD Vance and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick. The e-commerce giant is interested in purchasing all of TikTok’s U.S. operations.
OnlyFans founder Tim Stokely has also reportedly submitted an offer to the White House to acquire at least part of TikTok’s U.S. operations. Trump has previously stated that multiple companies have expressed interest in buying TikTok and that a potential deal could involve “multiple U.S. investors.”
TikTok maintains it’s not for sale
Despite buyers’ interest, TikTok has maintained that its U.S. operations are not for sale, citing concerns that the Chinese government would block any deal.
Last week, Trump suggested he may lower tariffs on China as an incentive to reach an agreement that would allow TikTok to continue operating in the U.S.
Meeting details remain unclear
Details from Wednesday’s meeting remain unclear, though sources say Vance, Lutnick, National Security Adviser Mike Waltz and Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard were in attendance. According to The Hill, a potential deal was expected to be presented to Trump during the meeting.
While the current deadline for a deal is April 5, Trump indicated that he could extend the deadline again if an agreement is not finalized by Saturday.
