Washington, D.C., June 29, 2025 — President Donald Trump announced on June 29, 2025, during a Fox News interview on Sunday Morning Futures with Maria Bartiromo that a group of “very wealthy people” has emerged as a buyer for TikTok’s U.S. operations, asserting that Chinese President Xi Jinping will likely approve the deal. Trump, who extended the deadline for ByteDance, TikTok’s Chinese owner, to divest its U.S. assets to September 17, 2025, via an executive order on June 19, declined to name the buyers but promised to reveal their identities in “about two weeks.” The claim, reported by Business Insider and Reuters, has reignited debate over TikTok’s future in the U.S., with national security concerns and trade negotiations at the forefront.
The TikTok Deal Announcement
What: Trump revealed a potential buyer for TikTok, describing them as a “group of very wealthy people” in a Fox News interview. He expressed confidence that China’s approval, likely required due to ByteDance’s Beijing base, would be granted, stating, “I think President Xi will probably do it.”
When and Where: The remarks aired on June 29, 2025, taped on June 27, during Trump’s appearance on Fox News. The deal pertains to TikTok’s U.S. operations, which serve 170 million users, per Forbes.
Why: A 2024 U.S. law, the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act, mandated ByteDance to sell TikTok’s U.S. assets by January 19, 2025, or face a ban, citing national security risks over Chinese access to user data. Trump, who credits TikTok for boosting his 2024 election support among young voters, has extended the deadline three times, most recently to September 17, to keep the app operational.
How: The proposed deal would transfer TikTok’s U.S. operations to a new U.S.-based entity, majority-owned by American investors, though details remain vague. Trump’s optimism about Xi’s approval contrasts with China’s earlier rejection of a similar deal in spring 2025, following Trump’s tariff announcements, per CNA.
Key Quote: “We have a buyer for TikTok, by the way. It’s a group of very wealthy people. I think I’ll need probably China’s approval, and I think President Xi will probably do it,” Trump told Fox News.
Context and Challenges
Background: TikTok faced a brief U.S. shutdown on January 19, 2025, displaying a “not available” message before Trump’s first extension, per Business Insider. Past potential buyers included Microsoft, Oracle, Frank McCourt, and Steven Mnuchin, with valuations ranging from $30 billion to $300 billion, per Forbes. Elon Musk, despite opposing a ban, has not bid, per Business Insider.
Trade Tensions: Trump’s tariff pause on April 9 and a May 12 U.S.-China deal reducing tariffs to 30% and 10% boosted markets, per CNN Business, but the July 9 tariff deadline looms, potentially complicating China’s approval, per Fortune.
Public Sentiment: X posts, like @MarioNawfal’s, echoed Trump’s claim, but @AlvaApp speculated on buyers like Amazon or Oracle, noting data security implications. No official confirmation from ByteDance or regulators has emerged, per @sonmuhurhaber.
Risks and Implications
Regulatory Hurdles: China’s approval is uncertain, as it halted a similar deal in spring 2025 over tariff disputes, per GMA News. ByteDance’s challenge to the 2024 law’s legality adds complexity, per Forbes.
National Security: The deal aims to address concerns about Chinese access to U.S. user data, but any agreement must satisfy regulators, per Axios.
Market Impact: A successful sale could stabilize TikTok’s 170 million U.S. users’ access, boosting investor confidence, but failure risks a ban, per The Straits Times.
Accessing the Story
- Fox News: www.foxnews.com for the full Sunday Morning Futures interview.
- Business Insider: www.businessinsider.com for Trump’s buyer announcement.
- Reuters: www.reuters.com for deal context and updates.
- X: Search “Trump TikTok buyer 2025” for sentiment, but verify claims like @AlvaApp’s buyer list for accuracy.
What This Means
Trump’s claim of a “very wealthy” buyer group for TikTok, with predicted Chinese approval, signals a potential resolution to the app’s U.S. saga, critical for its 170 million users and Trump’s young voter base. However, with China’s approval uncertain and the September 17 deadline approaching, the deal’s success hinges on trade negotiations and regulatory clearance. Publishers should monitor Trump’s promised buyer reveal in mid-July and ByteDance’s response. Readers should approach X speculation, like @ProudElephantUS’s anti-China rhetoric, cautiously, as it lacks evidence. If finalized, the sale could reshape social media and U.S.-China tech relations, but July’s tariff talks will be pivotal.
