TikTok was supposed to be gone from U.S. phones months ago. But it’s still here — and former President Donald Trump might be the reason why. Now, with a vague hint of a deal, questions are swirling once again.
It’s been 162 days since Congress passed a law demanding TikTok’s U.S. operations be sold or banned. That deadline? Long gone. Enforcement? Still not happening. The White House? Quiet. Meanwhile, Trump is teasing buyers and dropping cryptic lines on cable news. So… what’s actually going on?
Trump Dangles a Deal, But Keeps the Details Vague
Trump was back in the spotlight on Fox News this past Sunday. TikTok came up — and his answer was as murky as ever.
He claimed a buyer was in place. His exact words: “We have a buyer for TikTok, by the way.”
He didn’t say who. Just “a group of very wealthy people.” He also suggested China’s approval might be necessary, and casually said he thought President Xi would be on board.
That’s it. That’s the update.
Somehow, the fate of one of the world’s biggest social apps is being dangled like a reality TV teaser. No documents. No confirmation. Just Trump being Trump.
And that’s all we’ve got for now.
Oracle Is Still Hanging Around, Quietly
While Trump didn’t drop any names, Oracle is once again floating in the rumor pool. It’s not new — they’ve circled this deal before.
Back in April, a possible plan leaked: TikTok’s U.S. operations would be spun off into a new company. ByteDance, TikTok’s China-based parent, would still hold a chunk — around 19.9%. But a group of American investors would take over 50%.
According to The Information, these were the players:
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Oracle
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BlackRock
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Andreessen Horowitz
That setup would technically make TikTok “American-owned,” at least on paper. But whether lawmakers and regulators would go for that? No one’s betting their house on it.
ByteDance keeping nearly 20% could still be a sticking point. And then there’s China’s say in all of this. It’s not a one-sided negotiation.
Negotiations? They’ve Mostly Gone Cold
Here’s the part that matters most: nothing is actually signed. In fact, nothing seems close.
Axios reported last week that talks have gone quiet. Apparently, Vice President Kamala Harris’s office was leading discussions earlier this year — but no one’s heard much lately.
Frank McCourt, the real estate billionaire who once showed interest in buying TikTok, told Axios that his phone hasn’t rung in weeks. No calls. No updates. Dead air.
This whole thing feels like a movie stuck on pause.
And it’s not hard to see why. The Biden administration is juggling foreign policy fires across the map — Ukraine, Taiwan, Gaza. Adding a TikTok negotiation into the mix? Probably not a priority right now.
Too Many Buyers, Too Few Commitments
Trump wasn’t kidding when he said “wealthy people” want TikTok. But interest alone doesn’t mean action.
There’s been a rotating cast of characters rumored to be involved in a bid:
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Kevin O’Leary from Shark Tank
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MrBeast, YouTube’s biggest star
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Frank McCourt, billionaire developer
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Oracle, again
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BlackRock, maybe
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Andreessen Horowitz, allegedly
It’s the kind of list that makes headlines — but none of them have stepped up with a full, public, bank-verified offer. For now, it’s all talk.
And here’s the thing: who actually wants to write a billion-dollar check with a legal cloud still hanging overhead? It’s a tough sell.
The Real Problem? Political Timing Is a Mess
This isn’t just about business deals. It’s about timing — and right now, the timing is trash.
Trump has delayed enforcement of the ban three times already. Each delay resets the countdown. TikTok stays online. Users don’t notice anything different. And investors just wait.
Then there’s China. Any U.S. deal still needs Beijing’s approval. And if ByteDance sells off too much control, it risks penalties at home. They can’t move too fast — or too far.
Meanwhile, the Biden team has been consumed by bigger geopolitical crises. In short? There’s no real political muscle behind a TikTok sale right now.
And yet, the legal clock keeps ticking… somewhere.
Here’s What We Actually Know
So where does all of this leave TikTok, Trump, and the supposed “deal”? This table makes it pretty clear:
Aspect | Status |
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U.S. Ban Law | Passed but not enforced |
Trump’s Position | Supports sale, delaying ban |
China’s Role | Approval needed for any sale |
Oracle’s Involvement | Possibly leading a buyer group |
ByteDance’s Stake | May retain 19.9% |
Public Deal Terms | Still not disclosed or confirmed |
White House Involvement | Reportedly paused, unclear status |
TikTok App Availability | Still available in U.S. app stores |
A lot of noise. Not much clarity.
So, TikTok Stays — For Now
Until someone actually enforces the ban — or a real deal is signed — TikTok just… stays.
People scroll. Teens dance. Influencers post. Business as usual, even though technically, the law says otherwise.
The next chapter? Could come tomorrow. Or in six months. Or maybe never.
That’s the TikTok saga in 2025 — all smoke, no fire. At least, not yet.