Amazon has submitted a bid to purchase TikTok, a Trump administration official confirmed on Wednesday, just days before the platform faces a potential U.S. ban.
The bid, reportedly sent in a letter to Vice President JD Vance and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, marks a last-minute effort to keep the popular social media app operational in the country.
The New York Times first reported the bid, though Amazon has declined to comment on the matter.
Trump’s Uncertain Stance on the TikTok Ban
President Donald Trump, who has millions of followers on TikTok, paused the ban on Inauguration Day, overriding a Supreme Court ruling that had unanimously upheld the law requiring ByteDance, TikTok’s Chinese parent company, to sell or shut down its U.S. operations. While Trump has hinted at further delaying the ban, he has also expressed confidence that a deal will be reached before the Saturday deadline.
National Security Concerns & Government Scrutiny
The FBI and Federal Communications Commission have repeatedly raised concerns that ByteDance could share U.S. user data with the Chinese government, including browsing history, location data, and biometric identifiers. TikTok, however, has denied these allegations, insisting it has never shared such data and would refuse to do so if asked. The U.S. government has not presented evidence to confirm these fears.
Amazon’s Bid: A Game-Changer?
Amazon’s interest in TikTok signals a major shakeup in the race to acquire the platform. If successful, the deal would give Amazon a strong foothold in the social media space, further integrating its e-commerce empire with a platform known for viral trends and influencer-driven marketing.
As Trump prepares to meet with senior officials to discuss the looming sale deadline, the fate of TikTok remains uncertain. Whether Amazon or another buyer can finalize a deal in time will determine whether millions of U.S. users can continue accessing the app—or if the platform will go dark.
