Trump confirms Microsoft leads TikTok acquisition talks

President Donald Trump has confirmed that Microsoft is among the companies interested in acquiring TikTok's U.S. operations, as the deadline for ByteDance to divest its ownership approaches. Trump extended the deadline for the sale to April 4, emphasizing the need for a U.S. entity to take control due to national security concerns. He expressed a desire for a bidding war to secure the best deal and mentioned that he has had discussions with various potential buyers, including AI startup Perplexity AI and other notable investors. Microsoft's renewed interest comes after previous attempts to acquire TikTok during the Trump administration in 2020, which ultimately fell through. The Chinese government’s approval will also be necessary for any acquisition to proceed, adding another layer of complexity to the negotiations. The situation remains fluid, with multiple parties expressing interest in the lucrative platform, which boasts around 170 million users in the U.S.