Trump Says He Has a US Buyer for TikTok

We're now 162 days into what was supposed to be a TikTok ban in the United States, yet the app continues operating normally while politicians play an elaborate game of regulatory chicken. President Trump claims he's got buyers lined up, but the same story keeps repeating: promises of imminent deals followed by extended deadlines and more negotiations.

The latest chapter in this bureaucratic soap opera has Trump telling Fox News that "a group of very wealthy people" are ready to partner with ByteDance on a new regional agreement. He's promising more details "in about two weeks" – a timeline that sounds suspiciously familiar to anyone who's been following this story since the original ban legislation passed.

The Usual Suspects: Oracle, Blackrock, and Big Money

Trump's reference to "very wealthy people" isn't exactly narrowing down the field, considering everyone from Oracle's Larry Ellison to Shark Tank's Kevin O'Leary to YouTube's MrBeast has reportedly thrown their hat in the ring. The smart money, however, continues betting on Oracle as the lead partner, given their existing infrastructure relationship with TikTok's US operations.

According to reporting from The Information, the most likely scenario involves a new entity called "TikTok America" owned 50% by a consortium including Oracle, Blackrock, and Andreesen Horowitz. ByteDance would retain a 19.9% stake – just under the 20% threshold that might trigger additional regulatory scrutiny.

This arrangement makes strategic sense from multiple angles. Oracle gets to maintain their lucrative cloud services contract while potentially expanding their social media infrastructure footprint. The investment firms get exposure to one of the world's most valuable social platforms. ByteDance keeps significant financial upside without the regulatory headaches of direct US operations.

But here's where the story gets complicated: recent analysis shows that negotiations have actually stalled, with some potential buyers reporting radio silence from the White House in recent weeks.

The Stalemate Reality Behind the Headlines

While Trump projects confidence about closing a deal, the reality appears more complicated. Axios reported last week that TikTok sales negotiations had essentially ground to a halt, with billionaire Frank McCourt and other potential suitors saying things had gone "very quiet" ahead of the latest ban extension.

The negotiations, reportedly led by the vice president's office, slowed significantly before the third ban delay. Multiple sources suggest that potential US buyers remain interested, but securing Chinese government approval requires high-level diplomatic intervention that's currently competing with other foreign policy priorities.

This creates a classic catch-22 situation: Chinese officials have little incentive to rush approval when they know Trump will likely extend deadlines indefinitely, while US officials struggle to apply meaningful pressure without risking broader trade relationships.

The September 17th deadline feels increasingly arbitrary when everyone involved understands that executive orders can extend negotiation periods almost indefinitely. Trump's track record suggests he'll continue pushing deadlines rather than enforce an actual ban that could anger the platform's 170 million American users.

The Political Theatre of Tech Regulation

What we're witnessing isn't really about national security or data privacy – it's political theatre designed to appear tough on China while avoiding the backlash of actually banning a platform that millions of Americans use daily. The regulatory framework exists, but the political will to enforce it remains conspicuously absent.

This dynamic explains why potential buyers aren't panicking despite the supposed urgency. Oracle, Blackrock, and other sophisticated investors understand that this process will likely drag on for months or years, with periodic deadline extensions and negotiations that generate headlines without producing concrete results.

The real question isn't whether a deal will happen – it's whether anyone actually wants to force the issue. ByteDance benefits from continued US market access without ownership changes. Trump avoids the political cost of banning a popular app. Chinese officials maintain leverage without making concessions.

The Next Two Weeks (Or Two Months, Or Two Years)

Trump's promise of updates "in about two weeks" should be taken with substantial skepticism. We've heard similar promises throughout this process, typically followed by extended deadlines and renewed negotiations. The pattern suggests this saga will continue indefinitely until external pressure forces a resolution.

The September 17th deadline carries slightly more weight than previous extensions, but only because it coincides with broader US-China trade discussions that could provide diplomatic cover for a comprehensive agreement. Without that broader context, expect another extension and more promises of imminent breakthroughs.

For the millions of Americans using TikTok daily, none of this regulatory uncertainty matters. The app continues functioning normally, creators keep producing content, and advertisers keep spending money. The ban exists primarily on paper and in political rhetoric.

The Bottom Line: More Theatre Than Substance

The TikTok "ban" has become a masterclass in regulatory theatre – lots of dramatic announcements, extended deadlines, and promised resolutions that never quite materialize. Trump's latest claims about wealthy buyers sound impressive but lack the specificity and urgency that would indicate genuine progress.

Until Chinese officials face real pressure to approve a sale, or US officials demonstrate willingness to actually enforce the ban, expect more of the same: periodic deadline extensions, vague promises about imminent deals, and a platform that continues operating normally despite technically being banned.

The only certainty is that we'll hear more promises of resolution "in about two weeks" – a timeline that's become the unofficial motto of America's most prolonged tech regulation saga.

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