Trump wants Musk, Oracle’s Larry Ellison to consider buying TikTok
President Donald Trump has signalled his openness to Elon Musk acquiring TikTok, following the platform’s controversial shutdown in the U.S. due to national security concerns over its Chinese ownership.
The federal ban, which went into effect Sunday, left over 170 million American users unable to access TikTok. The app was also removed from Apple and Google’s digital stores in compliance with federal regulations.
Trump signed an executive order on his first day in office to delay the ban’s enforcement by 75 days, temporarily allowing TikTok to resume operations. Speaking to reporters after the signing, he suggested a potential deal that would see TikTok sold to a U.S. entity, with half of the proceeds benefiting the federal government.
“I have met with the owners of TikTok, the big owners,” Trump said. “What I’m thinking about saying to somebody is, ‘Buy it and give half to the United States of America.’”
The former president also issued a stern warning to China, cautioning against interference in any sale. “Any obstruction would be viewed as hostile,” he said, adding that such actions could result in tariffs as high as 100%.
When asked whether Elon Musk, the tech billionaire behind Tesla and SpaceX, might be a suitable buyer, Trump responded affirmatively, also mentioning Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison as a potential candidate.
“I’d like Musk to buy it. I’d like Larry to buy it, too,” he said. “TikTok is worthless without a U.S. permit. But with a permit, it’s worth like a trillion dollars. The deal is simple: buy it, give half to the United States, and you’ll have the ultimate partner.”
While TikTok’s parent company, ByteDance, has not indicated whether it plans to sell its U.S. operations, reports suggest Chinese officials may consider Musk’s involvement as a way to resolve the impasse.
The suggestion of Musk as a buyer comes amid his growing influence in Washington. In November, Trump appointed Musk to lead the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), a newly created role in the administration aimed at streamlining federal operations.
