President Trump Suggests Sale of TikTok's U.S. Operations—Are the Buyers "Very Wealthy Individuals"?

President Trump Suggests Sale of TikTok's U.S. Operations—Are the Buyers "Very Wealthy Individuals"?

2025年07月01日 22:40

1. Introduction: The Current State of the TikTok Sale Controversy

The tension of "banning or selling TikTok" has been a symbol of the US-China data hegemony competition since 2020. President Trump declared on FOX News on June 29, 2025, that "there is a buyer for TikTok."bloomberg.co.jp However, he implied that specific names would be announced "in two weeks."




2. Trump Administration's Tech Policy Towards China

Since the executive order in August 2020, Trump has been pushing for the sale of TikTok under the pretext of "the risk of data being handed over to the Chinese government." After returning to power in 2025, he continued this policy, extending the sale deadline by 90 days on June 19.investopedia.com This is linked to the renegotiation of tariffs with China, with TikTok being used as "bargaining material."




3. Timeline of Sale Negotiations

DateKey Events
2020/08First executive order demanding sale
2020/09Basic agreement with Oracle + Walmart alliance, but blocked by US court
2023/11ByteDance reportedly considering IPO in the US
2025/03Trump administration resets sale deadline (6/19)
2025/06Announces 90-day extension and states "there is a buyer"




4. Potential Buyers: The Intentions of the Oracle-Blackstone Alliance

Bloomberg reported that the buyer referred to by Trump is an "investment alliance centered around Oracle and Blackstone."bloomberg.co.jp.


Oracle had also planned to serve as TikTok's cloud partner in 2020, aiming to expand its cloud customer base, acquire data for AI model training, and jointly sell advertising inventory. Blackstone sees it as an attractive growth stock investment, aiming for synergy with existing short video startups in its portfolio.




5. China's Approval Process

The "recommendation AI" owned by ByteDance is considered "technology export" under China's export control regulations, requiring dual licenses from the Ministry of Commerce and the Ministry of Science and Technology. Trump is optimistic, saying "President Xi Jinping will approve,"indiatimes.com but progress in tariff negotiations and US congressional sanctions discussions are variables.




6. Latest Developments in US Domestic Legislation

  • National Defense Authorization Act (FY2025): Excludes TikTok from government procurement.

  • Data Security Act: Requires companies with "reasonable relationships" with foreign governments to incorporate in the US within 24 months.

  • Executive Order (May 2025): Mandates visibility of algorithms for foreign-made apps, with potential removal from App Store for violations.




7. International Comparison: Regulations in the EU and India

To avoid being designated as a "gatekeeper" under the DMA effective in early 2025, TikTok has opened an "EU Data Safe" in Dublin. India continues its nationwide ban from 2023 and is strengthening subsidies for the domestic startup "ShareChat."




8. Impact on Creators, Advertisers, and Users

  • Creators: In preparation for algorithm changes, simultaneous posting on YouTube Shorts and Instagram Reels has become commonplace.

  • Advertisers: Due to the walled garden effect, bidding costs via US DSPs are expected to rise by 10-15%.

  • Users: If the service is suspended, there is a risk of a surge in VPN usage.




9. Reactions from Competing Platforms

Meta has raised the revenue share ratio for Reels from 55% to 60%, and Google has introduced "monetization within 24 hours" for YouTube Shorts. Both companies are preparing to accommodate "refugees" in a scenario without TikTok.




10. Future Scenario Analysis

ScenarioProbabilityMain TriggersImpact
A. Acquisition Completed45%Approval from China and US investment committeeContinuation of TikTok brand, data storage in the US
B. Split IPO25%Political time-outTikTok US becomes independent, raises funds through IPO
C. Additional Extension to Avoid Ban20%Political considerations before electionsStatus quo, regulatory risks remain
D. Service Suspension10%Approval failure, court injunctionUser exodus, rapid growth of competitors




11. Conclusion

The battle over TikTok's US operations is a mirror reflecting US-China relations and simultaneously determines the fate of the social media ecosystem. If the acquisition is successful, it will be the first instance of a US high-tech company acquiring the core technology of a Chinese-origin app, potentially reshaping the balance of digital geopolitics. On the other hand, if approval fails, the social media usage patterns of young Americans will change significantly, and the advertising market landscape will be restructured. The key lies in the dynamics of three forces: 1) US Congress's election strategy, 2) the face of the Chinese government, and 3) the cost of global user attrition. The negotiation results in the coming months will be a litmus test for the future of data sovereignty.


List of Reference Articles

  1. Bloomberg "President Trump Says There Is a Buyer for TikTok US Operations - Details Not Disclosed" (June 30, 2025)bloomberg.co.jp

  2. Bloomberg "TikTok US Operations: Trump's Mentioned Buyer Candidate is Oracle's Alliance" (July 1, 2025)bloomberg.co.jp

  3. Reuters “Trump tells Fox News he has group of wealthy people to buy TikTok” (June 30, 2025) reuters.com

  4. Investopedia “Trump Says Has 'Very Wealthy People' Ready to Buy TikTok” (June 30, 2025) investopedia.com

  5. Times of India “Donald Trump teases new TikTok buyers, says he'll reveal them in two weeks” (June 29, 2025) indiatimes.com

  6. TV Asahi "President Trump Says 'There Is a Buyer for TikTok' - Details Not Disclosed" (June 29, 2025)news.tv-asahi.co.jp

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