President Donald Trump sparked discussion on Tuesday by suggesting that Tesla CEO Elon Musk or Oracle Chairman Larry Ellison could be suitable buyers for TikTok, the popular app owned by China’s ByteDance.
Speaking at a press briefing, Trump responded affirmatively when asked about Musk purchasing the platform, adding, “I’d like Larry to buy it, too.”
TikTok remains in limbo in the U.S. after Trump signed an executive order on Monday, granting ByteDance 75 days to continue operations while seeking a resolution. The order suspends a ban upheld by the Supreme Court unless ByteDance sells the U.S. business.
Trump suggested that TikTok’s U.S. operations could be worth $1 trillion with the right permits.
Musk and Ellison, both linked to Trump’s 2024 campaign and with strong ties to the U.S. tech industry, have been mentioned in discussions regarding TikTok’s future. Oracle provides TikTok’s cloud infrastructure in the U.S.
Trump proposed a deal where the buyer would give half of TikTok’s U.S. operations to the United States in exchange for a permit. He also emphasized that ByteDance would benefit from partnering with an American company.
This shift in Trump’s stance follows his earlier push to ban TikTok due to national security concerns. While ByteDance has not confirmed a sale, reports suggest that the Chinese government may consider Musk as a buyer. TikTok CEO Shou Chew’s recent attendance at Trump’s inauguration has further fueled speculation.
