Amazon has reportedly submitted a bid to acquire TikTok, according to a report by The New York Times. This unexpected move comes as TikTok faces an April 5 deadline to either separate from its Chinese ownership or risk being banned in the United States. However, sources cited by The New York Times suggest that the involved parties are not considering Amazon’s bid a serious offer.
Meanwhile, President Donald Trump is scheduled to meet with officials on Wednesday to discuss the future of TikTok. Earlier this week, he stated that an agreement with ByteDance is expected to be finalized before the April 5 deadline.
In a separate development, Financial Times reported on Tuesday that Andreessen Horowitz is in discussions to invest in TikTok as part of an Oracle-led bid, which includes participation from other American investors seeking to acquire the platform. If successful, this could position Oracle as a key stakeholder in TikTok’s U.S. operations, ensuring compliance with U.S. data protection laws.
Additionally, Reuters revealed last week that private equity firm Blackstone is evaluating the possibility of joining ByteDance’s non-Chinese shareholders, including Susquehanna International Group and General Atlantic, to provide additional capital for a bid on TikTok’s U.S. operations. Such a move could allow ByteDance to retain partial ownership while addressing U.S. national security concerns.
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