Politics
Trump hints at TikTok sale as deadline approaches, multiple buyers interested
By Kennedy Felton (Anchor/Reporter), Diane Duenez (Weekend Managing Editor), Heath Cary (Art Director), Jack Henry (Video Editor)
- President Donald Trump announced that a sale of TikTok might be in the works, with four groups interested in acquiring the social media giant. He mentioned that the decision is up to him and that all four groups are good candidates.
- TikTok’s ownership change is required by a law enacted on Jan. 19, with a deadline extension until April 5, pending approval from Beijing.
- Among those interested in acquiring TikTok are businessman Frank McCourt, Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian, YouTube star MrBeast (Jesse Tinsley), and the AI company Perplexity.
Full Story
President Donald Trump said a sale of TikTok may be in the works, adding that four groups are interested in acquiring the social media giant. He called the four groups “good,” and claimed the final decision was up to him.
Media Landscape
See how news outlets across the political spectrum are covering this story. Learn more
Left 19%
Center 47%
Right 35%
Bias Summary
- President Donald Trump stated that the United States is in discussions with four groups about acquiring TikTok.
- A U.S. law requires TikTok to separate from its Chinese owner, ByteDance or face a ban in the country.
- The future of TikTok in the United States remains uncertain amid these discussions.
- The ongoing negotiations highlight concerns over data privacy and national security tied to TikTok's Chinese ownership.
- No summary available because of a lack of coverage.
- U.S. President Donald Trump announced that four groups are in discussions to purchase TikTok from its Chinese parent company, ByteDance, to avoid a U.S. Ban on the platform.
- Concerns over national security prompted Congress to pass a bipartisan bill to ban TikTok if it does not sell its U.S. Operations within a certain timeline.
- The uncertainty of TikTok's future relates to fears that the Chinese government could access user data or manipulate the platform's algorithm.
- Trump suggested he might need to extend the deadline for a sale and expressed hope that China would approve the deal to avoid punitive trade actions.
Bias Comparison
Media outlets on the left
emphasize ongoing discussions with vague wording, potentially downplaying urgency.
Media outlets on the right
highlight national security imperatives and specific congressional actions, presenting a more urgent tone.
Report an issue with this comparison
Bias Distribution
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Left
Left
+0
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Left
+0
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Far
Right
Right
+0
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Untracked Bias
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98 other sources covering this story
Total News Sources
98
Leaning Left
8
Center
20
Leaning Right
15
Last Updated
23 hours ago
Bias Distribution Powered by Ground News™
“We’re dealing with four different groups, and a lot of people want it. It’s up to me, so there could be a sale. All four are good,” he said.
Trump made the comments Sunday night, March 9, aboard Air Force One, after spending the weekend in Florida.
Why does TikTok need a new owner?
TikTok’s future has been uncertain since a law took effect on Jan. 19, requiring a change of ownership. Trump signed an executive order delaying enforcement of the ban until April 5. Any sale would need approval from Beijing, as ByteDance, TikTok’s parent company, is based in China.
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Following Trump’s inauguration, Chinese officials suggested such a deal might be possible. However, that was before the implementation of 20% tariffs on all Chinese imports.
On Tuesday, a spokesperson for China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs posted on X.
“If war is what the U.S. wants, be it a tariff war, a trade war, or any other type of war, we’re ready to fight till the end,” the spokesperson wrote.
Among those publicly interested in acquiring TikTok are businessman Frank McCourt, Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian, YouTube star MrBeast (Jesse Tinsley) and the AI company Perplexity. Trump also mentioned Larry Ellison, founder of Oracle Corporation. Oracle worked with TikTok to host U.S. data.
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When asked Thursday, March 6, whether he plans to extend the deadline if a deal isn’t finalized, Trump responded, “Probably.”
[Kennedy]
THE CLOCK CONTINUES TO TICK FOR SOCIAL MEDIA GIANT TIK-TOK.
HOWEVER, PRESIDENT TRUMP SAYS A SALE MAY BE IN THE WORKS.
[Trump]
((We’re dealing with four different groups And a lot of people want it and it’s up to me. So there could be. All four are good.”))
PRESIDENT TRUMP ACKNOWLEDGED THE POSSIBLE DEAL SUNDAY NIGHT ON BOARD AIR FORCE ONE AFTER SPENDING THE WEEKEND IN FLORIDA.
TIK-TOK’S FUTURE FACED UNCERTAINTY SINCE A LAW TOOK EFFECT ON JANUARY 19TH REQUIRING A CHANGE OF OWNERSHIP.
TRUMP SIGNED AN EXECUTIVE ORDER DELAYING ENFORCEMENT OF THE BAN UNTIL APRIL FIFTH.
ANY SALE WOULD REQUIRE APPROVAL FROM BEIJING since “byte dance limited” is A CHINESE COMPANY. FOLLOWING TRUMP’S INNAUGURATION, THE CHINESE FOREIGN GOVERNMENT HINTED THIS MIGHT BE POSSIBLE. BUT THAT WAS BEFORE THE 20 PERCENT TARIFFS ON ALL IMPORTS FROM CHINA.
ON TUESDAY… THE SPOKESPERSON FOR THE MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS POSTED ON “X” … “If war is what the US wants, be it a tariff war, a trade war or any other type of war, we’re ready to fight till the end.”
AMONG THOSE WHO HAVE PUBLICLY THROWN THEIR HAT INTO THE “TIKTOK” RING:
FRANK MC-COURT AND REDDIT CO-FOUNDER ALEXIS OHANIAN…
JESSE TINSLEY AND YOU- TUBE STAR “MR BEAST”…
AND A MERGER OFFER BY PERPLEXITY A-I.
TRUMP HAS ALSO MENTIONED ORACLE CORPORATION FOUNDER… LARRY ELLISON SINCE TIKTOK HAS WORKED WITH ORACLE ON THE HOSTING OF U-S DATA.
WHEN ASKED BY A REPORTER LAST THURSDAY IF HE PLANS TO EXTEND THE DEADLINE IF A DEAL IS NOT HAMMERED OUT IN TIME, TRUMP SAID, “PROBABLY.” KEEP IT HERE ON STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS FOR THE VERY LATEST ON THIS STORY AND OTHER HEADLINES AROUND THE COUNTRY.
Media Landscape
See how news outlets across the political spectrum are covering this story. Learn more
Left 19%
Center 47%
Right 35%
Bias Summary
- President Donald Trump stated that the United States is in discussions with four groups about acquiring TikTok.
- A U.S. law requires TikTok to separate from its Chinese owner, ByteDance or face a ban in the country.
- The future of TikTok in the United States remains uncertain amid these discussions.
- The ongoing negotiations highlight concerns over data privacy and national security tied to TikTok's Chinese ownership.
- No summary available because of a lack of coverage.
- U.S. President Donald Trump announced that four groups are in discussions to purchase TikTok from its Chinese parent company, ByteDance, to avoid a U.S. Ban on the platform.
- Concerns over national security prompted Congress to pass a bipartisan bill to ban TikTok if it does not sell its U.S. Operations within a certain timeline.
- The uncertainty of TikTok's future relates to fears that the Chinese government could access user data or manipulate the platform's algorithm.
- Trump suggested he might need to extend the deadline for a sale and expressed hope that China would approve the deal to avoid punitive trade actions.
Bias Comparison
Media outlets on the left
emphasize ongoing discussions with vague wording, potentially downplaying urgency.
Media outlets on the right
highlight national security imperatives and specific congressional actions, presenting a more urgent tone.
Report an issue with this comparison
Bias Distribution
Far
Left
Left
+0
Click to close
Left
+0
Click to close
Click to close
Click to close
Click to close
Far
Right
Right
+0
Click to close
Untracked Bias
Click to close
98 other sources covering this story
Total News Sources
98
Leaning Left
8
Center
20
Leaning Right
15
Last Updated
23 hours ago
Bias Distribution Powered by Ground News™
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