Amazon has reportedly made a last-minute bid to acquire TikTok as the popular video-sharing app nears the U.S. government’s Saturday deadline to separate from Chinese ownership or face a ban.
The New York Times reported Wednesday that Amazon’s offer is not being taken seriously.
In January, President Trump set an April 5 deadline for TikTok’s Chinese parent company, ByteDance, to sell the app to a non-Chinese buyer, citing national security concerns. On Sunday, Trump told reporters that multiple potential buyers had shown strong interest and hinted that a deal could be reached before the deadline.
Amazon’s bid highlights the 11th-hour maneuvering in Washington over TikTok’s ownership. Policymakers in both parties have expressed deep national security concerns over the app’s Chinese ownership, and passed a law last year to force a sale of TikTok that was set to take effect in January.
Although the Supreme Court upheld the law, Trump postponed its enforcement until Saturday.
Amazon declined to comment, and TikTok has not yet responded to requests for comment, the New York Times said.
Trump is set to meet with top White House officials Wednesday to discuss TikTok’s fate. Insiders suggest a potential deal could bring in new U.S. investors—such as tech giant Oracle and private equity firm Blackstone—while avoiding a formal sale. However, it’s unclear whether such a structure would comply with federal regulations.
Amazon already has ties to TikTok. The app, with 170 million U.S. users, has become a major shopping hub where influencers promote products. While TikTok has its own e-commerce platform, TikTok Shop, many influencers direct users to Amazon, earning commissions. Amazon has also provided some technical infrastructure for the platform.
Source: Citi Newsroom