TikTok’s fate in the United States has drawn the interest of prominent figures, including Elon Musk, internet creator Jimmy Donaldson (known as MrBeast), and Oracle Chairman Larry Ellison, as the app faces a potential ban unless sold by its Chinese parent company, ByteDance.
Last year, then-President Joe Biden signed legislation requiring ByteDance to divest TikTok by January 19 or risk a U.S. ban. The move cited national security concerns over TikTok’s ties to the Chinese government. Now, with a deadline extension under President Donald Trump’s administration, the social media platform has become a political and economic battleground.
Jimmy Donaldson announced his interest in acquiring TikTok in a video to his millions of followers, saying, “I might become your new CEO!” He teased plans to transform the platform and promised $10,000 to five random followers. The post has garnered over 73 million views since Monday, though Donaldson has shared few details about his bid.
Elon Musk, owner of X (formerly Twitter) and a key adviser to President Trump, is another potential buyer. Musk recently criticized the imbalance in social media operations, stating, “The current situation where TikTok operates in America, but X isn’t allowed in China, is unbalanced.”
When asked about Musk’s potential involvement, Trump expressed openness, adding, “I’d like Larry [Ellison] to buy it, too.” Ellison’s Oracle is a major TikTok server provider and was previously a frontrunner in a 2020 bid to acquire the platform during Trump’s first term.
Billionaire investor Frank McCourt has also shown interest, proposing a version of TikTok that excludes its proprietary algorithm. McCourt envisions the app running on infrastructure overseen by his Project Liberty Institute, a nonprofit critical of current social media data practices. However, McCourt acknowledged that TikTok would be “worth less” without its algorithm.
Trump’s influence over the sale remains significant. The president has suggested a 50-50 joint ownership model between the U.S. government and the buyer, though legal experts warn this could require changes to existing laws.
“It’s likely the eventual buyer will align politically with President Trump,” said Anupam Chander, a Georgetown University law professor. Chander criticized the law granting the president substantial control over TikTok’s fate, calling it “a terrible idea” that has entangled the platform in political strife.
As the deadline looms, the platform’s future remains uncertain. ByteDance faces intense scrutiny, and TikTok’s potential buyers must navigate a politically charged environment to secure ownership of one of the world’s most popular social media platforms.