US President Donald Trump recently announced that Microsoft may be making a bid for TikTok.
TikTok was recently reinstated in the US by President Trump after going dark for just one day.
According to a law signed by former president Joe Biden last year, the app’s Chinese-based parent company ByteDance must sell TikTok to an American company to remain on the market in the country.
Newstalk’s Business Editor Joe Lynam told Newstalk Breakfast that the app could be sold to Microsoft.
“This was announced overnight, you know the way he kind of, before he gets on the helicopter he does these impromptu press conferences,” he said.
“So, he was asked about TikTok; there was talk about Elon Musk bidding for it, there’s talk about Oracle bidding for it.
“Now, he’s saying, ‘I would say yes’, when he was asked about Microsoft bidding for it.”
United States President Donald Trump gives remarks on AI Infrastructure. January 21, 2025. Credit: Aaron Schwartz/Pool via CNP /MediaPunchAmerican politicians and lawmakers have cited fears that the Chinese government is using TikTok to spy on or manipulate US citizens as the reason the app must be sold to a US company.
“As you know, TikTok has been kind of placed in flux because it’s owned by a Chinese company called ByteDance that’s been ordered by Congress to sell its stakes in TikTok, which has 170 million users in the US,” Joe said.
“Now, there is talk that Microsoft will enter the fray. They had talked to them about four and a half years ago so let’s see what happens to that.”
'Wait and see'
However, Joe said there is a chance that president Trump’s claims are inaccurate.
“Now, Microsoft, I’ve messaged them to see is there any veracity in this,” he said.
“It’s not unlike Donald to exaggerate stuff that might not be true.”
Joe said we will just have to “wait and see” what lies in store for TikTok.
Main image: Split image showing the TikTok logo (L) and Donald Trump (R).
