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The president of the United States, Donald Trump, assured this Sunday that he already has a buyer in sight for the popular social media platform TikTok, whose presence in the country has been jeopardized due to its ties with China.
“We have a buyer for TikTok. We will probably need approval from China”, Trump stated during an interview on the Sunday Morning Futures program on Fox News.
Although he did not reveal names, he indicated that it is a large "very wealthy" tech company that will be announced in the next two weeks.
TikTok, on the verge of closure?
Under the government of former President Joe Biden, Congress passed a law that required TikTok to separate from its Chinese parent company, ByteDance, by January 20th of this year, the day Trump officially returned to the White House. If it failed to do so, the platform would be banned for national security reasons, due to concerns that the Chinese government could access personal data of U.S. citizens.
Failing to secure a buyer in time, TikTok was briefly suspended in the U.S., until Trump intervened on his first day in office to grant a 75-day extension. Then, on June 19, he extended that deadline by another 90 days, giving new life to the app until September 17.
Beyond the official discourse, Trump himself has acknowledged having a "weak spot" with the social network. In his words, TikTok played a key role in his electoral victory last November by enhancing his image among young voters.
This hint reveals a political dimension of the negotiation: TikTok is not just an app for viral videos, but a strategic space for influence and connection with millions of users, including thousands of young Cubans in the U.S. and on the island, who use it to gather information, express themselves, and circumvent censorship.
For many Cubans in the United States, TikTok has been a window to share their reality, denounce repression, create humor about daily life, promote alternative music, or stay in touch with family and followers.
Its potential closure in the United States raises concern not only due to the economic impact on creators but also because of the symbolic blow to a network where they have found their own voice.
For now, everything seems to indicate that Trump is looking to avoid a total blackout, albeit with conditions: a "secure" buyer, preferably American, and approval from China.
According to reports, several large American companies have shown interest in acquiring the operation of TikTok in the U.S., including Amazon, Microsoft, Oracle, and the investment fund Blackstone. However, so far no offer has been officially accepted.
Sources close to the negotiation indicate that Amazon has already submitted a formal proposal to government officials, but it has not yet been confirmed or responded to by the White House.
Meanwhile, Trump has suggested that a viable solution could involve the creation of a joint venture, with a 50% stake for the United States, though it is unclear if this approach is progressing as part of the discussions.
Meanwhile, as the terms of the negotiation are being defined, TikTok has already begun to experience technical restrictions. The app has been removed from the Apple App Store in the United States, preventing new downloads and limiting updates.
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