Trump Says Microsoft Considering Buying TikTok

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Jan 28, 2025

Above: TikTok logo is screened on a mobile phone for illustration photo in Krakow, Poland, on Jan. 25, 2025. Image copyright: Beata Zawrzel/Contributor/NurPhoto via Getty Imagesstory last updated 7 days ago

The Facts

US Pres. Donald Trump said Monday that Microsoft was looking to buy TikTok, the Chinese social media app that was asked to sell its US business by Jan. 19 or shut down. Trump, who extended the deadline for the ban, now wants a "bidding war" for TikTok.
On his way to Florida on Saturday, Trump said there was "great interest in TikTok." When asked on Monday if Microsoft was among its suitors, the president replied, "I would say yes," without naming all the potential companies involved.
Media reports have indicated that another interested buyer is Oracle, which already provides the short video platform with much of its infrastructure. Trump reportedly said earlier that he was "open" to Oracle founder Larry Ellison acquiring TikTok.

The Spin

Narrative A

Microsoft's potential acquisition of TikTok could be a masterful strategic move. Given TikTok's massive youth-focused audience, the app's future growth is likely extraordinary. While ByteDance faces regulatory pressure to sell, Microsoft has both the means and the unique position of being relatively unconstrained by antitrust concerns — the match is ideal.

Inclusion Times

Eurogamer.net

Narrative B

The thought of Microsoft acquiring TikTok raises significant concerns. Under Chief Executive Officer Satya Nadella's leadership, the tech giant has flourished by focusing on enterprise software, and a pivot to social media seems oddly misaligned with this strategy. Microsoft's track record with consumer satisfaction is also subpar, and the tech giant has concerning ties to the US government.