A shift in social media ownership could be on the horizon now that President Donald Trump has publicly declared support for Elon Musk as a potential TikTok buyer. The short-form video app, which boasts 170 million American users, has been dancing on thin ice ever since the Supreme Court upheld legislation forcing ByteDance to divest its U.S. TikTok operations. Everything escalated when TikTok went dark for 12 hours—an unsettling glimpse of what a national shutdown might look like.
Trump, fresh off a second electoral victory, seems to have pivoted from banning TikTok to saving it. During a White House event focused on new AI infrastructure, he mentioned that a co-ownership structure between the U.S. government and any acquiring company would be “more valuable” because it adds the ultimate business partner: Uncle Sam. In attendance were Sam Altman of OpenAI, Masayoshi Son of SoftBank, and Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison, who also popped up as a possible suitor for TikTok. Oracle already has a crucial role in hosting most of the platform’s servers.
The U.S. government’s involvement might sound bizarre, but Trump argues it creates a mutually beneficial scenario—especially for star players like Musk and Ellison. He insisted the deal could be split 50-50, suggesting that a government stake elevates TikTok’s value and ensures it remains accessible to Americans, presumably with fewer security concerns. Given the Supreme Court’s ruling and Trump’s own executive order granting a 75-day pause on the app’s ban, the clock is ticking for ByteDance to broker a sale.
Musk, who’s no stranger to bold acquisitions (remember Twitter?), is the biggest name in this conversation. Trump’s endorsement indicates the White House is fine with a private mogul taking partial control, provided the U.S. government has a seat at the table. For a president who once championed a TikTok ban, it’s a hard pivot. He even acknowledged that TikTok might have helped secure the young vote, giving him a newfound “warm spot” for the app he once called a national security threat.
Nothing is finalized yet, and the path to a sealed deal remains complicated. Negotiations could get messy with ByteDance, potential U.S. partners, and regulatory authorities in the mix. Still, if the last few years have taught us anything, it’s that Trump, Musk, and big tech are never short on surprises—especially when billions of dollars and 170 million users are at stake.
FAQs
- Why does Donald Trump support Elon Musk buying TikTok?
He believes Musk’s purchase, coupled with government involvement, could address national security concerns while keeping the platform running. - What is ByteDance required to do under the Supreme Court ruling?
The ruling upholds legislation forcing ByteDance to sell its TikTok operations in the U.S. to resolve security issues. - How did TikTok respond to the Supreme Court action?
TikTok shut down in the U.S. for about 12 hours, highlighting the real possibility of a nationwide ban. - What is Oracle’s role in TikTok?
Oracle hosts most of TikTok’s servers and has long been rumored to be interested in deeper involvement with the platform. - Will Musk definitely buy TikTok?
It’s not guaranteed. Various parties are in talks, and the U.S. government is pursuing a unique ownership structure, so details may still evolve.
