With the clock ticking towards an April 5 deadline, Amazon has reportedly submitted a last-minute bid to buy TikTok‘s U.S. operations, throwing its hat into an already contentious and high-stakes race to amass the wildly fashionable short-form video app.
The supply, revealed by The New York Occasions, was reportedly despatched within the type of an official letter addressed to U.S. Vice President JD Vance and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick.
Three sources near the discussions confirmed Amazon’s involvement, although insiders additionally hinted that the bid may not be taken severely by key decision-makers inside the negotiation course of.
Mounting stress and political stakes
TikTok, owned by the Chinese language tech large ByteDance, is going through a ban within the United States except it secures a U.S.-based purchaser by Saturday, April 5.
The app, which boasts over 170 million customers within the U.S., was briefly inaccessible again on January 19 when a nationwide safety legislation took impact. Nonetheless, entry was shortly restored after President Donald Trump issued an govt order delaying the ban for 75 days, offering TikTok with a lifeline to discover acquisition choices.
Since then, the app has discovered itself in a political tug-of-war. Trump, who stays deeply concerned within the situation, is anticipated to satisfy with advisors on Wednesday to debate TikTok’s destiny.
He has expressed each urgency and adaptability, stating {that a} deal might be made by the deadline, but additionally suggesting he would “most likely” prolong the timeline if crucial.
Apparently, Trump has floated the concept that the U.S. authorities ought to obtain a 50 % stake in TikTok as a part of any potential deal, a proposition that might mark a extremely unconventional requirement in a business acquisition. He is additionally indicated that he wish to play a job in brokering the deal.
A rising record of suitors
Amazon’s entry into the fray provides one other main title to a rising record of potential consumers. Earlier experiences had prompt that Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian is backing a separate bid, whereas Microsoft has additionally expressed curiosity in buying the platform. President Trump himself confirmed Microsoft’s involvement, though particulars stay scarce.
Regardless of the flurry of exercise, there stays substantial uncertainty round ByteDance’s willingness to truly half with TikTok’s U.S. operations.
With a lot at stake-ranging from person knowledge safety to political optics and worldwide relations-any deal would wish to string a really advantageous needle.
Not solely would ByteDance need to conform to a sale, however the deal would even have to realize approval from a number of U.S. authorities entities.
