Amazon makes surprise last-minute bid to buy TikTok amid looming US ban deadline

Amazon enters last-minute bid to buy TikTok, joining Microsoft and Walmart as Trump's US ban deadline approaches.

Amazon has reportedly submitted a surprise offer to purchase TikTok, the hugely popular video-sharing app currently facing a potential US ban, according to the New York Times.

TikTok, owned by Chinese company ByteDance, must finalize a sale to a US-based buyer or face being shut down in the United States by an approaching April deadline. Amazon's unexpected bid was described as a late-stage attempt to acquire the platform. However, according to administration officials cited by the Times, Amazon’s offer isn't being taken seriously at this stage.

TikTok is a major digital powerhouse in America, boasting approximately 170 million US users—roughly half the country's population—and generating millions of dollars in online sales daily.

Amazon reportedly expressed its interest through a formal letter to Vice President JD Vance and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, highlighting the chaotic negotiations surrounding TikTok’s future.

Several other high-profile companies, including Oracle, Walmart, and Microsoft, have also expressed interest in acquiring TikTok. Even prominent YouTube star Mr. Beast is rumored to be considering a bid.

The flurry of acquisition offers began following a prolonged political battle. Lawmakers from both major political parties had previously expressed concerns over national security risks posed by TikTok’s Chinese ownership. Legislation passed by Congress, signed into law by then-President Joe Biden in April 2024, mandated that TikTok either sell to a US company or cease US operations by January 2025.

Initially, ByteDance failed to secure a deal with any American buyer, resulting in TikTok briefly going offline on January 19, just prior to President Donald Trump’s inauguration.

However, President Trump, who previously advocated banning TikTok during his first term, reversed his stance and allowed the platform back online. Trump's decision reportedly followed extensive lobbying by TikTok and pressure from users flooding lawmakers with calls. Despite the Supreme Court unanimously upholding the law enforcing the sale, Trump delayed its implementation until the upcoming Saturday deadline.