Former President Donald Trump has stated that he has identified a prospective buyer for TikTok, the video-sharing application that faced a US ban over national security concerns.
In an interview with Fox News, Trump indicated that a group of “very wealthy people” are prepared to acquire the platform, adding, “I’ll tell you in about two weeks.”
While the sale would require approval from the Chinese government, Trump expressed optimism, telling Fox that he believes President Xi Jinping “will probably do it.”
Earlier this month, Trump delayed the enforcement of a law mandating TikTok’s sale for a third time.
The latest extension stipulates that ByteDance, TikTok’s parent company, must finalize a deal to sell the platform by September 17.
The BBC has reached out to TikTok for comment.
A prior agreement to sell TikTok to an American entity collapsed in April, reportedly due to disagreements between the White House and China regarding tariffs.
It remains unclear whether the current potential buyer mentioned by Trump is the same party that was reportedly interested three months ago.
In April of the previous year, the US Congress enacted legislation compelling TikTok’s sale, citing concerns that the app or its parent company could potentially transfer US user data to the Chinese government, allegations that TikTok has refuted.
Although Trump initially criticized the app during his first term, he later acknowledged its potential influence on his 2024 election prospects and now supports its continued operation in the US.
The law was initially scheduled to take effect on January 19, but Trump has repeatedly postponed its implementation through executive actions, a move that has faced criticism for potentially overriding the legislative authority of Congress.
TikTok challenged the constitutionality of the law, but the US Supreme Court declined to hear its appeal.
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