More than five months after Congress passed a law to ban TikTok, the app remains on U.S. phones, and the situation is more confusing than ever. The deadline has long passed with no enforcement from the White House. Now, former President Donald Trump has added to the mystery, suggesting on Fox News that a deal to sell TikTok’s U.S. operations is in place, yet he has provided no concrete details, leaving the app’s future in limbo.
Trump Dangles a Deal but keeps the Details Vague
During a Fox News appearance last Sunday, Donald Trump made a surprising claim about the popular social media app.
He stated, “We have a buyer for TikTok, by the way,” but refused to name who was involved. He only described them as “a group of very wealthy people.”
Trump also hinted that any deal would require approval from China, suggesting he believed President Xi would agree to the terms. However, with no official documents or confirmation from any party, the announcement has been met with skepticism, feeling more like a teaser than a real update on the fate of the app.
Is Oracle still in the Running to Buy TikTok?
While Trump was vague, rumors immediately turned back to Oracle, a company that has previously shown interest in acquiring TikTok. An earlier plan that surfaced in April proposed a complex arrangement for the app’s U.S. operations.
The idea was to spin off TikTok into a new American-owned company. Under this leaked proposal, several key investors would take a majority stake, but TikTok’s Chinese parent company, ByteDance, would hold on to a significant portion.
The key players in this potential investor group included:
- Oracle
- BlackRock
- Andreessen Horowitz
This structure would give American investors over 50% ownership, but ByteDance would still retain a 19.9% stake. This remaining ownership by a Chinese company could be a major hurdle for getting approval from U.S. lawmakers who are concerned about data privacy and national security.
Talks have Gone Cold Amid Political Distractions
Despite Trump’s comments, recent reports suggest that no deal is imminent. In fact, most negotiations appear to have stalled completely.
Axios reported last week that discussions, once led by Vice President Kamala Harris’s office, have gone quiet. Even potential buyers like billionaire Frank McCourt have confirmed they haven’t received any updates in weeks.
The primary reason for the pause seems to be a matter of priorities. The Biden administration is currently handling several major foreign policy crises, including conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza. A complex business negotiation over a social media app is likely not at the top of their agenda right now.
Here is What We Actually Know About the Situation
With so much speculation and so few facts, the TikTok saga remains a puzzle. For millions of users, the app continues to operate as usual, even with a federal law demanding its sale or ban hanging in the balance. The table below breaks down the current status of the key aspects of the situation.
| Aspect | Status |
|---|---|
| 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 |
Until either the White House decides to enforce the ban or a real, confirmed deal is put on the table, TikTok’s presence in the U.S. will continue unchanged. The next move could come at any time, or not at all.
