AMAZON has reportedly made a last-minute bid to purchase TikTok as a ban of the popular Chinese-owned platform in the United States approaches.
Former President Joe Biden signed a law last April that required ByteDance, the Beijing tech company that owns TikTok, to sell the video-sharing app to a US institution or face a nationwide ban.
A TikTok logo is seen on a mobile phone screen in front of US flagGetty Images – Getty
Jeff Bezos’ Amazon has reportedly made a last-minute offer to purchase all of TikTokGetty Images – Getty
Amazon made the offer in a letter addressed to Vice President Vance and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, according to reportsGetty
President Trump’s 75-day extension for a potential TikTok sale is set to expire on April 5The Mega Agency
The law cited fears and concerns that TikTok poses a national security risk due to its Chinese ownership.
TikTok went dark in the United States after it reached its January 19 deadline without a sale.
However, hours after taking office, President Donald Trump signed an executive order delaying the federal ban on TikTok for an additional 75 days.
April 5 marks the end of Trump’s extension and TikTok remains silent on a potential US sale.
Amazon made an eleventh hour offer to acquire all of TikTok, The New York Times reported on Wednesday.
The bid came in the form of a letter addressed to Vice President JD Vance and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, the outlet reported.
But parties involved in the talks do not appear to be taking the e-commerce giant’s offer seriously, according to The New York Times.
Amazon now joins a list of billionaire powerhouses that have entertained a potential purchase of TikTok.
Tesla owner Elon Musk, who purchased X, then Twitter, for $44 billion in 2022, Los Angeles Dodgers owner Frank McCourt, and Shark Tank’s Kevin O’Leary are among the potential suitors.
Also in the mix is popular YouTuber MrBeast, whose real name is Jimmy Donaldson.
Trump has pledged to save TikTok, which he called “worthless” without a permit from the United States.
“I met with owners of TikTok, the big owners, it’s worthless if it doesn’t get a permit,” Trump told reporters at the White House on January 21.
“It’s not like you can take the US. The whole thing is worthless. With a permit it’s worth like a trillion dollars.
“So, what I’m thinking saying to somebody is buy it and give half to the United States of America and we’ll give you the a permit and they’ll have a great partner, the United States.”
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