Research suggests Trump has found a group of wealthy buyers for TikTok, but the deal needs China's approval.
It seems likely that the sale involves potential buyers like Oracle's Larry Ellison, AppLovin, and Perplexity AI, pending announcement.
The evidence leans toward complexity, with past deals derailed by tariffs and ongoing national security concerns.
Background
President Trump has announced that a group of "very wealthy people" is ready to buy TikTok, a popular social media platform owned by ByteDance, a Chinese company. However, the deal requires approval from China, and Trump believes President Xi Jinping will likely agree.
Details on Buyers
The identities of the buyers are expected to be revealed soon, with potential candidates including Oracle's Larry Ellison, AppLovin, and Perplexity AI. Trump previously suggested a joint venture where American stakeholders buy TikTok and sell a 50% stake to the U.S. government.
China's Role
The sale needs Beijing's approval to move forward, adding complexity due to past tensions. A previous attempt in April 2025 to spin off TikTok's U.S. operations failed after Trump's tariffs on China disrupted negotiations.
Context and Controversy
This move addresses national security concerns about TikTok's Chinese ownership, but the need for China's nod highlights geopolitical tensions. The situation remains fluid, with potential for delays or changes.
This note provides a detailed examination of President Trump's recent announcement on June 29, 2025, that a group of buyers has been found for TikTok, but the deal requires approval from China, as of the current date, Monday, June 30, 2025, at 05:10 AM PDT. The analysis is grounded in recent news reports, social media discussions, and market analyses, offering a holistic view of the potential sale, the buyers involved, and the geopolitical implications.
On June 29, 2025, President Trump stated in an interview, likely with Fox News, that he has found a group of "very wealthy people" ready to buy TikTok, a social media platform owned by ByteDance, a Chinese company. This announcement was reported across multiple news outlets, including CNBC, Reuters, and The New York Times. Trump mentioned that the identities of the buyers would be revealed in about two weeks, which, based on the timeline mentioned in some reports (e.g., two weeks from April 4, 2025), suggests a potential delay or misreporting, as the current date is June 30, 2025. Given the context, it is likely that the announcement is imminent or already in progress.
Potential buyers include notable figures and companies such as Oracle's Larry Ellison, AppLovin, and Perplexity AI, as detailed in a deeper analysis of the CNBC article. Trump previously proposed a structure where American stakeholders would buy TikTok and then sell a 50% stake to the U.S. government as part of a joint venture, indicating a complex ownership model aimed at addressing national security concerns.
The deal's progression hinges on approval from China, specifically from President Xi Jinping, as Trump noted, "I think President Xi will probably do it," expressing confidence in Chinese cooperation. This requirement stems from TikTok's ownership by ByteDance, which is subject to Chinese regulations, particularly the Export Control Law that governs the transfer of technology and data. Any potential divestiture is likely to require approval from the Chinese government, adding a layer of geopolitical complexity.
Past attempts to sell TikTok's U.S. operations illustrate this challenge. For instance, a deal in April 2025 to spin off TikTok's U.S. operations with ByteDance retaining a minority position was derailed by Trump's tariffs on China, as reported in Reuters. This history suggests that China's approval is not guaranteed and could be influenced by broader trade and tariff negotiations.
Social media, particularly X, has reflected the news with posts from various users confirming Trump's statement. For example, Yahoo Finance on X shared the news, and KrishnaDas2411 on X highlighted Trump's confidence in Chinese approval. An older X post from martypartymusic on X from April 3, 2025, mentioned a potential quid pro quo where China approves the TikTok sale in exchange for tariff relief, suggesting ongoing negotiations. Another post from Awk20000 on X on April 4, 2025, noted China backing out of a previous sale due to tariffs, with an additional 75 days given to finalize a deal, providing context for the current situation.
These X posts, while not providing new details, confirm the news's reach and public interest, with view counts ranging from 16 to 21,830, indicating varying levels of engagement.
To organize the key developments, the following table summarizes the current state of the TikTok sale and China's role:
Aspect | Details |
---|---|
Trump's Announcement | Group of "very wealthy people" found, buyers to be revealed soon (likely within weeks from June 30, 2025). |
Potential Buyers | Includes Oracle's Larry Ellison, AppLovin, Perplexity AI, and possibly others in a joint venture with U.S. government stake. |
China's Approval | Required due to ByteDance ownership, Trump confident Xi Jinping will approve, past deals derailed by tariffs. |
Timeline and Context | Previous April deal failed, current negotiations ongoing, national security concerns driving sale. |
Market and Social Reaction | News widely reported, X posts confirm, public interest high, geopolitical tensions noted. |
The interplay between these developments highlights the dynamic nature of the situation, with Trump's confidence tempered by the need for Chinese approval and past failures. The potential buyers and joint venture structure suggest a complex deal aimed at addressing U.S. national security concerns, but China's role introduces uncertainty, especially given tariff-related tensions.
The sale of TikTok is part of broader U.S.-China trade and technology tensions, with national security concerns about data privacy and foreign influence driving the push for divestiture. Trump's tariffs, which have increased by about 10 percentage points since the year's start, have previously impacted negotiations, as seen in the April 2025 deal's failure. The current economic climate, with a strong U.S. labor market but rising fiscal deficits, adds further complexity, as noted in recent analyses like Bloomberg: Goldman's Kostin Says Profit Margins Face Key Risk From Tariffs.
As of June 30, 2025, Trump has announced a group of wealthy buyers for TikTok, but the deal's success depends on China's approval, with Trump expressing confidence in Xi Jinping's cooperation. Potential buyers include Oracle's Larry Ellison, AppLovin, and Perplexity AI, with a possible joint venture involving the U.S. government. Past deals have been derailed by tariffs, highlighting the geopolitical challenges. This analysis, drawing from news reports and social media, provides a comprehensive view for stakeholders monitoring this critical development.
Trump says he has group of 'very wealthy people' ready to buy TikTok
Trump says in Fox interview he has group of wealthy people to buy TikTok
TikTok deal put on hold after China indicated it would reject deal over tariffs
Goldman's Kostin Says Profit Margins Face Key Risk From Tariffs