Amazon Joins Last-Minute Race to Buy TikTok

Amazon has submitted a last-minute bid to acquire TikTok U.S. operations as the deadline for a forced divestiture approaches. 

The offer, addressed to Vice President J.D. Vance and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, comes just days before the set date for the social media platform’s nationwide ban.

ByteDance, TikTok’s Chinese parent company, has been under pressure to sell its U.S. business following issues about national security. A law mandating the sale was upheld by the Supreme Court, and President Donald Trump, who initially delayed its enforcement, is now expected to make a final decision.

While Amazon’s bid has turned heads, insiders are saying it isn’t being taken seriously. Negotiations have been in motion for months, with Oracle, Blackstone, and a group led by billionaire Frank McCourt also vying for the app. Even with growing interest, ByteDance has stayed tight-lipped, neither confirming nor denying any potential deal.

The fate of TikTok is deeply entangled with Trump’s political manoeuvres. The former president, who commands a massive following on the platform, has hinted at extending the deadline again if necessary. “We have a lot of potential buyers,” he told reporters. “There’s tremendous interest in TikTok. The decision is going to be my decision.”

Behind closed doors, Trump has been discussing the matter with top officials, including National Security Adviser Mike Waltz and Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard.

The administration is reportedly considering a structure where U.S. investors hold a controlling stake in a new entity, “TikTok America,” with ByteDance retaining just under 20%—a threshold designed to limit Chinese influence.

Amazon bidding for TikTok isn’t the only one causing a stir. AppLovin, a mobile tech company, has entered the fray alongside a consortium that includes OnlyFans founder Tim Stokely. 

Perplexity AI, an artificial intelligence startup, has also made a case for acquiring TikTok, promising to “rebuild the TikTok algorithm without creating a monopoly.”

Meanwhile, some investors have taken a more aggressive approach. Jesse Tinsley, founder of Employer.com, has reportedly put forward a $30 billion offer, while Wyoming businessman Reid Rasner has tabled a $47.5 billion bid. However, ByteDance has yet to publicly engage with any of them.

At the heart of the debate is national security. U.S. intelligence agencies and regulatory bodies have long warned that ByteDance could be compelled to hand over user data to the Chinese government. TikTok has repeatedly denied such assertions, but officials are unconvinced.

Even if a deal is reached, China could still have the final say. The Chinese government has previously shown opposition to a forced sale, and any transaction involving TikTok’s algorithm or proprietary technology may require Beijing’s approval. Trump, aware of this, has reportedly floated the idea of easing tariffs on China in exchange for cooperation on the sale.

With the clock ticking, the pressure is on. If a buyer isn’t secured by the deadline, TikTok faces a U.S. shutdown. Trump, however, has left the door open for another extension.

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