When asked late Monday about Microsoft's involvement, Trump responded, 'I would say yes,' adding that there is 'great interest in TikTok.'
However, he stopped short of naming other US firms potentially interested in the deal.
'I like bidding wars because you make your best deals,' Trump remarked while speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One en route from Miami to Washington, DC.
Both TikTok and Microsoft are yet to comment on the matter.
The video-sharing app briefly went offline in the US on January 18, complying with a law requiring its Chinese parent company, ByteDance, to divest its ownership of the platform or face a nationwide ban.
President Trump's decision to suspend the enforcement of this law for 75 days upon taking office gave his administration time to seek alternatives.
The move marks a significant policy shift from his previous stance during his first term when he attempted to ban TikTok outright over alleged national security concerns. During his 2024 presidential campaign, Trump reversed course, pledging to 'save' the platform while addressing security fears.
The controversy surrounding TikTok has spanned administrations. Former President Joe Biden signed the law mandating ByteDance's divestment, citing bipartisan concerns over the platform's potential to harvest Americans' personal data and influence public discourse. Earlier this month, the US Supreme Court unanimously upheld the law.
Wycliffe Nyamasege
Source : https://en.igihe.com/science-technology/article/microsoft-in-talks-to-acquire-tiktok-trump-confirms
