TikTok’s Future Remains Unclear in the US as Trump Hosts Talks on Sale

So what’s the latest on TikTok, and its future in the U.S.?

Well, that depends on who you ask.

To clarify, as of right now, TikTok is operating illegally in the U.S., due to the “Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act”, which was approved by the Senate, signed off by President Biden, and enacted on January 19th.

Under that law, because TikTok was not sold to a U.S. company within the originally defined period, it’s now banned in the region, with all providers that support the app liable for fines of $5,000 per user of the app for facilitating its ongoing operation.

Apple and Google have removed TikTok from their respective app stores for this reason, despite assurances from President Trump that they won’t be fined for violating the law. Oracle, which facilitates the app’s everyday operation, has accepted Trump’s promises, which is why TikTok is still working for U.S. users. Though no one new can download it (so, uh, don’t accidentally delete it).

President Trump issued an executive order early last week which gives TikTok an additional 75 days to secure a deal to keep the app in operation in the U.S. Though again, that order doesn’t negate the law that’s already been enacted, so TikTok is illegal in the U.S. at this minute.

And now, Trump’s looking to secure a new deal for the app.

Over the weekend, reports suggested that the Trump Administration is currently working with Oracle and Microsoft to facilitate a new deal that will enable TikTok to meet the obligations of the act, and remain in operation in the U.S. The suggestion is that Oracle and/or Microsoft will take a significant stake in TikTok, while current owner ByteDance will retain majority ownership of the app.  

It’s unclear if that’ll meet the requirements of the bill, though according to Trump, he hasn’t actually discussed any sale of TikTok to Oracle either way.

As reported by NPR:

“When asked about the Oracle talks on Air Force One on Saturday night, Trump denied being in discussions with Oracle’s Larry Ellison about a TikTok takeover. ‘Larry is a friend of mine,’ Trump said. ‘I never spoke to Larry about TikTok. I’ve spoken to many people about TikTok. There’s great interest in TikTok,’ he said.”

So any deal on that front could be further away than initial reporting has suggested, though more talks are expected to be held in Washington this week.

But in essence, TikTok is banned in the U.S. right now, though it’s not really, and the U.S. government is looking to arrange a deal that would see TikTok sold to Oracle and/or Microsoft, but it’s not really.

Then again, maybe both of these things are true, while other suitors, like YouTube star MrBeast, are also, reportedly, still lurking as possible options to take on ownership of the U.S. element of the app.

Another potential option could be Elon Musk, though Musk himself has made no indication that he would be interested in buying TikTok and running another social platform.

In the end, then, the news on TikTok is that it’s still going to be sold, and likely to a group with significant leanings to President Trump. Which could eventually give the Trump Administration more influence over how the app is run in the U.S.

Talks are still ongoing, and there’s no clear path forward as yet.