White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt stated that the administration aims to finalize a deal to ensure TikTok's continued operation while safeguarding American users' data.

Potential buyers mentioned in the past include major companies like Microsoft and Oracle, as well as investment firms such as KKR and General Atlantic.

The potential buyers for TikTok's American operations, valued at around $50 billion, include notable figures like Oracle's Larry Ellison, Shark Tank's Kevin O'Leary, and YouTube star MrBeast.

On June 29, 2025, President Donald Trump announced that a buyer for TikTok's U.S. operations has been found, responding to a legal requirement for its Chinese parent company, ByteDance, to sell the app or face a ban in the United States.

While Trump indicated that a deal might be imminent, he acknowledged that the Chinese government's approval and potential delays from the U.S. administration could prolong the negotiations.

In an interview with Fox News, Trump described the buyers as 'a group of very wealthy people' but did not disclose their identities, promising more information in two weeks.

This announcement adds to the ongoing discussions about the regulation and ownership of social media platforms, particularly those with foreign ties.

TikTok remains a major player in the social media landscape, ranking as the fifth-most popular platform globally with approximately 1.6 billion users and generating $10 billion in revenue in 2024.

Concerns over national security have intensified the push for the sale, with TikTok and ByteDance denying allegations of manipulation by the U.S. government.

The Chinese government has emphasized that it will have the final say on any forced sale, highlighting the need for compliance with Chinese laws regarding technology exports.

As the deadline for a TikTok sale approaches on September 17, 2025, the situation remains complex, influenced by U.S.-China relations and foreign policy.