U.S. President Donald Trump stated on Sunday that his administration was in discussions with four different groups regarding the sale of the Chinese-owned social media platform TikTok, emphasizing that all options were favorable.
The status of TikTok has been uncertain since January 19, when a rule went into force mandating that its owner, ByteDance, sell the app on national security grounds or risk being banned. Following his inauguration on January 20, Trump issued an executive order attempting to postpone the law’s implementation by seventy-five days.
Asked if there was going to soon be a deal on TikTok, Trump told reporters aboard the Air Force One, “it could.”
“We’re dealing with four different groups, and a lot of people want it … all four are good,” he added.
TikTok and ByteDance did not immediately respond to Reuters’ requests for comment outside of normal business hours.
A number of prospective buyers, including former Los Angeles Dodgers owner Frank McCourt, have shown interest in the rapidly expanding company, which analysts believe could be worth up to $50 billion, as a result of the unrest at TikTok.
