US President Donald Trump is back in the spotlight after he said he had found a group of very wealthy people to buy TikTok and keep the app operating in the US. The statement comes amid tensions between the US government and TikTok's Chinese parent company, ByteDance.
Trump announced the news in an interview with Fox News in late June 2025. He said that the identities of the potential buyers would be announced within the next two weeks. Although he did not name them, Trump is confident that the group has enough financial strength and influence to complete the acquisition.
Background of TikTok's US Issues
TikTok has long been under the spotlight of the US government as a potential national security threat. The government is concerned that American user data could be accessed by the Chinese government through ByteDance. For this reason, the US Congress passed a law in 2024 that would require ByteDance to sell TikTok's US assets or face a total ban.
TikTok was originally given a deadline of January 19, 2025, to complete the divestment process. But Trump has extended the deadline three times, and now the new deadline is set at September 17, 2025.
Who are the Potential Buyers?
Trump said TikTok’s buyers were “a bunch of very wealthy people,” but he did not reveal who they were. He said only that a formal announcement would be made in the next two weeks. Some speculation has suggested that a consortium of U.S. investors including Oracle, Blackstone, and Andreessen Horowitz may be involved, but there has been no official confirmation.
Trump also said the deal would likely require approval from the Chinese government, and he is optimistic that President Xi Jinping will give the green light for the transaction.
Political Strategy or Economic Interests?
Interestingly, Trump, who was previously known as one of the most vocal opponents of TikTok, now seems to want to save the app. In the same interview, he admitted that TikTok had helped him gain support from young voters in last year's presidential election.
This raises the question: is Trump's move purely in the interests of economic and national security, or is there a political strategy behind it? Some analysts believe that Trump sees great potential in TikTok as a campaign tool and communication tool with the younger generation.
Challenges Still Awaiting
Even if Trump has found a potential buyer, the TikTok acquisition process will not be easy. In addition to having to get approval from the Chinese government, the deal must also go through various legal and regulatory processes in the US. Moreover, trade relations between the US and China are unstable, especially after Trump announced new tariffs on imported goods from China.
Previously, plans to spin off TikTok's US operations into a new US-based company were mooted, but those plans were delayed due to objections from China.
What Impact Will This Have on TikTok Users?
For TikTok users in the US, this news is certainly a breath of fresh air. If the acquisition is successful, the application can continue to operate without interruption. However, if the deal fails and ByteDance cannot meet legal requirements, TikTok could be permanently blocked in the US.
This could also have an impact on global users, including in Indonesia. As one of the most popular social media apps in the world, TikTok's fate in the US could affect the company's overall policy direction and innovation.
Conclusion
Donald Trump’s statement about finding a group of rich people to buy TikTok adds another chapter to the long drama between the US and the Chinese app. While many questions remain unanswered, one thing is for sure: TikTok’s future in the US is now in the hands of investors and high-level political decisions.
Will this deal work? Will TikTok still exist in the US? We may find out in the next few weeks.
