Amazon has reportedly submitted a last-minute offer to buy TikTok, the popular video-sharing app, as it approaches its April 5 deadline to either sever ties with its Chinese parent company ByteDance or face a ban in the U.S.
According to The New York Times, the e-retail giant founded by billionaire Jeff Bezos sent an offer letter detailing its proposal to Vice President JD Vance and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick.
However, various parties involved in the negotiations of a potential TikTok sale “do not appear to be taking Amazon’s bid seriously,” the outlet reports.
The surprise bid comes just hours before President Trump is set to meet with top advisors in the Oval Office to review a proposal in which TikTok’s existing U.S. investors would take majority control of a spin-off version of the company.
According to The Post, Trump has until Saturday to find an acceptable buyer for the popular video app after issuing an executive order on January 19th, delaying enforcement of a federal law that banned TikTok unless ByteDance divested.
The president could opt to extend the deadline again if terms aren’t finalized.
Both Democratic and Republican lawmakers have long raised national security concerns about TikTok’s Chinese ownership. The app boasts over 170 million users in the U.S. alone.
Various investors, including existing U.S. investors in the app’s parent company ByteDance—Susquehanna, KKR, General Atlantic, and Coatue—are seeking to acquire larger stakes as part of the proposed handover.
Other billion-dollar corporations throwing their hats in the ring include Oracle, Walmart, and Microsoft. Even popular YouTuber MrBeast is said to be in on the action.
A sale of TikTok is expected to fetch at least $40 billion.
@cbsmornings The deadline for TikTok to be sold to a U.S. buyer or face a national ban is this Saturday, April 5. President Trump said there are “a lot of potential buyers.” But if a deal is not reached, Trump has previously stated that he is willing to extend the deadline. #tiktok #socialmedia #trump ♬ original sound – CBS Mornings
To finalize the deal, Trump would need to convince the video app’s critics in Congress, such as Senate Intelligence Committee Republican Chair Tom Cotton, that it effectively addresses national security concerns.
As it stands, Congressional law mandates a complete divestment of Chinese control over TikTok. It remains unclear if the proposed deal will meet this requirement, though Trump does have some flexibility in making that decision.
Additionally, Trump would need approval from the Chinese government, which initially opposed any forced sale but has recently softened its stance. The president has also suggested offering China some concessions on tariffs in exchange for a TikTok deal.
