Trump's TikTok Acquisition Drama Takes a New Turn! Who is the "Very Wealthy" Mysterious Group?

1. The "Deal Maker" is on the Move Again

"The buyer is already decided. It's a very wealthy group—". On June 29 (Eastern Time), appearing on a FOX News program, U.S. President Donald Trump confidently suggested that the negotiations for the sale of TikTok's U.S. operations were in the "final stretch." According to the President, the lineup of the acquisition consortium is set to be announced "within two weeks." However, with neither company names nor investor names known, only the "mystery" spread, causing a stir on social media.reuters.com

2. Background—"Sell or Halt" Law and the Third Extension

In 2024, the Trump administration legally mandated ByteDance to "completely sell its U.S. operations" citing national security reasons. The initial deadline was January 19, 2025. Subsequently, the deadline was extended three times by executive order, with the current deadline being September 17. The revival of the spin-off plan, which stalled in April, led to the recent statement.reuters.combusinessinsider.com

3. The Emerging "Lineup" of Candidates

According to U.S. media reports, AI company Perplexity, gaming ad giant AppLovin, Amazon, and the Project Liberty team led by former Dodgers owner Frank McCourt are said to have entered the acquisition race.businessinsider.com

There is also speculation that a "shadow SPV (special purpose vehicle)" consolidating multiple billionaires is being prepared, and the "very wealthy group" statement likely refers to this framework.

4. The "Final Gate" of Chinese Government Approval

The President himself stated, "Approval from President Xi Jinping is necessary." The act of exporting the algorithm owned by ByteDance could potentially violate China's export control laws, making a nod from Beijing indispensable. Unlike the 2019 case of the budget hotel OTA Trip, TikTok's core code might be treated as "national-level strategic technology."reuters.com

5. Why Did Trump Change His Stance?

It is well known that during his first term (2020), Trump declared TikTok would be "banned immediately," but in the 2024 election campaign, he shifted to a pro-app stance, mindful of the youth vote. In fact, when the app was temporarily halted on January 19, he signed an executive order granting a 75-day reprieve, and the service was restored within 24 hours. It is reported that TikTok Live for the election campaign garnered a total of 300 million views.businessinsider.com

6. The Argument that "Acquisition is the Best Compromise"

Even the hardliners against China within the Republican Party in Congress recently stated that "data protection through acquisition by U.S. investors" is the ideal solution. If the sale is realized,

1. avoiding backlash from young voters by continuing app usage

2. negotiating additional tariffs with Beijing as a trade-off for "concessions"
   becomes a possible dual strategy—this is the calculation within the White House.
   
   
   

7. Real-time Reactions on X (formerly Twitter)

Within just 30 minutes after the statement, #VeryWealthyGroup rose to the 8th trending spot.

• "The buyer must be Elon!"

• "Better we own it than China"

• "TikTok will survive. It's already decided"
  were among the posts that spread over 50,000 times in an hour.hindustantimes.com
  On the other hand, there are many skeptical voices from liberal creators saying, "Don't hold the First Amendment hostage" and "Censorship will only increase after the sale."
  
  
  

8. "Cold Water" and "Expectations" for the Creator Economy

Creators who experienced the nightmare of the app going "completely dark" in January are accelerating the "exit from TikTok" diversification of sponsored projects. Instagram Reels is offering a pullout bonus of up to $20,000. Meanwhile, as the acquisition by U.S. investors becomes more realistic, TikTok Shop's GMV has recovered by 13% over the past two weeks due to expectations that advertisers will return, according to estimates by foreign securities.businessinsider.com

9. National Security and Freedom of Expression—The Aftermath of the Supreme Court's Judgment

The Supreme Court ruling in January 2025 stated, "Concerns about national security are within the discretion of the legislature," dismissing TikTok's appeal. While brandishing legal "threats," in reality, the extension measures through executive orders—this dual strategy is the backdrop to the current acquisition drama.

10. What is China's "True Aim"?

Since last fall, Beijing has shown a flexible stance, saying, "The parties involved will decide the transaction voluntarily." Meanwhile, there are moves to use the resumption of rare earth exports to the U.S. and the easing of AI semiconductor regulations as chips, keeping the "TikTok card" alive as a bargaining chip in U.S.-China trade negotiations.investopedia.com

11. Investor Scenarios: Three Outcomes

12. The Side Game of Tech Giants

Amazon is appealing "immediate synergy with ad collaboration" while avoiding the risk of antitrust laws by not making a formal offer public. The "ghost" of the Oracle-Walmart alliance is also whispered, but the cloud separation model is likely to be met with resistance from Beijing.

13. How the Younger Generation Views "Nation and App"

According to a Pew Research survey, 32% of U.S. adults support a complete ban on TikTok (50% in March 2023). The real harm of "not being able to watch favorite streams" outweighs political risks—this is the honest opinion of Generation Z.businessinsider.com

14. The "Double Migration" Strategy of Creators

Popular dancer @JennaMoves began simultaneously posting on YouTube Shorts immediately after the January blackout to maintain ad revenue. There is an increasing number of cases where corporate sponsors renew contracts with "cross-posting conditions," and "multi-platform simultaneous distribution" is becoming the standard.

15. The "Twist" of Regulation and Innovation

While the short video culture has explosively grown in the U.S., the fact that its engine is a Chinese algorithm highlights the contradiction of the "data cold war." Even if the acquisition is realized, the handling of algorithm transfer and model transfer learning is likely to open new legal territories.

16. Who Are the "Very Wealthy"?—Three Speculations

1. Tech "Cash Cow": Adam Forlick and his wife, founders of AppLovin, who have already formed an M&A fund

2. Old Money Alliance: Family offices led by former members of Carlyle and KKR

3. Startup King + Celebrities: Elon Musk + Libertarian investors' cooperative system

However, the administration is poised to strengthen checks on "foreign-backed funds," making "transparency of funding sources" a new hurdle.

17. The "Event Calendar" for the Next 90 Days

• July 15 Special Senate Committee on China Hearing

• Early August CFIUS (Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States) Interim Decision

• Late August Republican Convention: Possible Inclusion of TikTok Policy in Party Platform

• September 17 Final Deadline—Acquisition Completion or Fourth Extension

18. Conclusion—The New Cold War Over "Algorithm Hegemony"

TikTok is not just an entertainment app; it is a symbol of the economic and political influence brought by the "black box" of algorithms. Trump's statement about the "very wealthy group" is nothing less than a gong announcing the next chapter in the battle for digital sovereignty. The outcome of the sale negotiations will serve as a litmus test for how democracy and market principles can coexist in the data era.