Trump Claims Buyer Ready for TikTok in Controversial Deal That Needs China’s Approval

In a stunning revelation on Fox & Friends this morning, former U.S. President Donald Trump claimed he has lined up a buyer ready to acquire a 50% stake in TikTok, the wildly popular social media platform that has been under siege by U.S. lawmakers. The only hurdle now, he said, is approval from Chinese President Xi Jinping.

Trump didn’t name the potential buyer, but insisted the deal is real and that it “would solve the TikTok problem overnight.” What problem he’s referring to is where the conversation gets controversial — and political.

TikTok, owned by China-based ByteDance, has been under unrelenting pressure from Washington, with both the Biden and Trump administrations claiming the app poses a “national security threat.” The allegation? That TikTok collects data on Americans and ships it off to Beijing.

But here’s what they don’t say: TikTok’s U.S. operations, including its data storage, are managed entirely by American companies. No U.S. user data is hosted on servers in China. Despite this, the fear-mongering continues, and so do the attempts to force a sale — or ban the platform altogether.

Let’s be honest. TikTok isn’t being targeted because it’s a spy tool. It’s because it’s stealing market share and advertising dollars from American tech giants like Facebook (Meta), Google (YouTube), Snapchat, and Instagram. TikTok’s unmatched algorithm has become the gold standard for engagement, and U.S. social media companies can’t keep up.

That’s where the pressure campaign comes in — thinly veiled behind “national security” but clearly aimed at economic control.

The app has so far survived through a series of temporary 90-day reprieves, which have kept it alive in the U.S. app stores despite legislation threatening its ban. The latest deal proposed by Trump is being positioned as a compromise — an American-led partial buyout, pending China’s blessing.

But don’t be fooled. A 50% stake would still mean no operational control, unless explicitly negotiated. And it’s likely ByteDance would still retain rights to the source code, IP, and global decision-making power.

Whether you’re a TikTok fan or not, it’s hard to ignore what this political war could mean. Millions of Americans now rely on TikTok — not just for entertainment, but as a full-time income source, news outlet, marketing channel, and community. A ban would cut off countless creators, influencers, and small businesses at the knees.

This entire saga has become a textbook case of economic bullying dressed up in legislative language. It’s a story not just of tech, but of power, propaganda, and profit.

Where this ends is anyone’s guess. Will China approve the deal? Will ByteDance walk away? Will TikTok finally give in to the pressure and sell off one of the most valuable pieces of internet real estate ever created?

One thing’s clear: this is no longer about data privacy — if it ever truly was. It’s about control of the narrative, the platform, and ultimately, the profit.

And maybe, just maybe, it’s time to admit that sometimes the easiest exit is also the most lucrative one.

Stay tuned to The Daily Scrum News for updates on this story and more global tech developments that matter.