Published reports say the president may soon order the sale because of national-security concerns, and Microsoft is in talks to buy the hit video app.
NEW YORK — President Trump will order China’s ByteDance to sell its hit video app TikTok because of national-security concerns, according to reports published Friday. “We are looking at TikTok,” Trump told reporters Friday at the White House. “We may be banning TikTok.” Reports by Bloomberg News and the Wall Street Journal citing anonymous sources said the administration could soon announce a decision ordering ByteDance to divest its ownership in TikTok. There have been reports of U. S. tech giants and financial firms being interested in buying or investing in TikTok. The New York Times, citing an unidentified source, reported Friday that Microsoft is in talks to buy TikTok. Microsoft did not immediately reply to a request for comment. TikTok issued a statement Friday saying, “While we do not comment on rumors or speculation, we are confident in the long-term success of TikTok.” ByteDance launched TikTok in 2017, then bought Musical.
