Trump says TikTok Has a buyer while ban remains on pause

TikTok's presence in the U.S. continues under a cloud of uncertainty, despite a federal law calling for its sale or removal from app stores. Enforcement of the ban has been paused multiple times, most recently by former President Donald Trump, who now claims a new deal to transfer TikTok’s U.S. operations is close to happening.

Speaking to reporters, Trump stated that an investor group is ready to purchase the U.S. segment of TikTok from its Chinese parent company, ByteDance. The potential buyers reportedly include Oracle, Blackstone, and Andreessen Horowitz—a consortium that was previously considered but saw negotiations stall due to geopolitical tensions.

Any agreement would still require approval from Chinese regulators, who have so far resisted allowing the transfer of core technology abroad. China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs gave no indication of a policy shift, maintaining a cautious stance on the matter.

The proposed deal would reportedly result in a U.S.-controlled entity managing TikTok’s operations stateside, with ByteDance retaining a minority stake. However, even this structure might not satisfy both U.S. lawmakers and Chinese authorities.

TikTok has technically been banned in the U.S. since January 19, but the company continues to operate while the mandate remains unenforced. App stores are still hosting the app, deferring penalties as the political and legal drama plays out.

Though the outcome remains uncertain, the latest developments suggest that discussions around TikTok’s future are far from over—especially with high-profile voices like Trump continuing to push for a sale.