Tech Desk 
Jan 28, 2025
In a dramatic turn of events involving TikTok US' mandatory acquisition by a US-based tech firm, US President Donald Trump said on Tuesday that Microsoft was in talks to buy the short-form video powerhouse.
The development comes on the heels of a similar indication made earlier by the US president regarding the divestiture of TikTok's US operations, which has been reeling through a number of hurdles including regulatory and political challenges.
According to Reuters, Trump was willing to observe a bidding war among multiple buyers eager to take control of the Chinese social media platform in the US.
Trump's latest remarks follow his previous admission that several US-based firms expressed intent to buy TikTok, as he's expected to make a final decision on the matter within 30 days.
The app, having a massive user base of around 170 million in the country, went dark for a few hours on January 19 when the law, striking a ban on it on national security grounds, came into effect.
The short-video service was revived immediately after Trump assumed office on the following day, January 20, and signed an executive order to reprieve the ban's implementation for 75 days.
