US President Donald Trump has expressed openness to the idea of tech billionaire Elon Musk purchasing TikTok, the popular Chinese video platform. This comes after the Supreme Court upheld a US Congress law banning TikTok unless it is sold by ByteDance, its Chinese parent company, by January 19. Trump's decision to suspend the ban for 75 days has sparked discussions about potential buyers, including Musk, who has previously supported Trump's campaign financially.
The US government accuses ByteDance of using TikTok for espionage in favor of Beijing, a claim the company and Chinese authorities deny. Despite this, Trump has indicated his willingness to allow Musk or other potential buyers like Larry Ellison to acquire the platform, describing any deal without his approval as rendering the app 'worthless.'
With TikTok boasting around 170 million users in the US, its removal from app stores could lead to its obsolescence. The temporary suspension of the ban has allowed TikTok to restore its services after initially shutting down in response to the legal threat.
ByteDance resists the sale, supported by the Chinese government, which sees the ban as a form of coercion. While talks continue, the legal landscape remains uncertain, with various investor groups also showing interest in acquiring the platform. The situation remains fluid, with the possibility of significant changes to TikTok's ownership and operations in the US.
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