You may soon see TikTok under new ownership as Microsoft is once again in discussions to acquire the popular social media app. Former U.S. President Donald Trump confirmed the news, adding that he hopes to see a competitive bidding war over TikTok.
This development comes a week after Trump revealed that multiple parties were considering the acquisition, with a decision expected within 30 days. Microsoft’s renewed interest marks the second time the tech giant has attempted to take control of TikTok.
TikTok’s history of U.S. acquisition attempts
Back in 2020, Microsoft had expressed a strong interest in purchasing TikTok after Trump’s administration raised concerns over national security. The U.S. government feared that the Chinese-owned app could be used to collect data on American users. However, TikTok’s parent company, ByteDance, ultimately rejected Microsoft’s offer in favour of a deal with Oracle. Instead of an outright purchase, Oracle became a “trusted technology provider” for TikTok in the U.S.
The push for a U.S.-based acquisition resurfaced in April 2024, when then-President Joe Biden signed a law requiring ByteDance to sell TikTok to an American company within nine months or face a complete ban. ByteDance challenged the ruling, but after failing to overturn it in the Supreme Court, TikTok was officially shut down in the U.S. on January 18, 2025.
TikTok’s temporary return and what’s next
Just a day later, on January 19, Trump signed an executive order delaying the ban by 75 days, allowing TikTok to resume its services. This extension gives companies like Microsoft and other potential buyers a window to negotiate a deal before the ban takes effect.
With Microsoft back in talks, the competition to acquire TikTok will intensify in the coming weeks. Whether the app will remain accessible to American users beyond the 75-day extension depends on how these negotiations unfold.
