While TikTok, targeted by the U.S. government over national security concerns, faces a ban unless its owner ByteDance sells it, a claim that the app has already been bought and acquired by Donald Trump was widely shared, but Fact Crescendo has debunked the claim and found the claim is not true.
This is about our investigation of this claim.
Social Media Claim
A claim posted by a social media user stating that Donald Trump had purchased TikTok was widely shared. The post quickly gained traction, leading many to believe the story was true when the TikTok app in the U.S. suddenly resumed its services.
For more information and specifics regarding this claim, you can find the details below.
https://www.facebook.com/share/r/15nM5zrZpT
The same screenshot, along with the identical claim, has also been shared by another X user.
This repetition highlights the viral nature of the claim and its ability to spread across different platforms, with the claim stating, “🚨BREAKING: Donald Trump has purchased TikTok, and it is now legal to use in the US again”.
Given the claim’s extensive dissemination and the considerable attention, it has received from the internet community, we believed it was necessary to perform a fact-check on the above subject.
Fact Check
Fact Crescendo has started debunking the above claim and verifying the above claim through reliable sources especially with the recent and latest news on TikTok’s official announcements.
At the time of publishing this article, there are no official announcements, news reports, or filings suggesting that Donald Trump has acquired TikTok. Neither TikTok nor Donald Trump has made any statements or issued any related announcements.
According to CNN, TikTok began restoring its services on Sunday following an announcement by President-elect Donald Trump. He revealed plans to ensure the app’s continued access in the United States as part of his agenda upon returning to office on Monday.
The report highlights Trump’s commitment to reviving the platform for its 170 million American users but does not suggest that he or any U.S. entity has purchased or acquired TikTok. Instead, Trump emphasized the possibility of creating a joint venture to address national security concerns while allowing the app to remain operational in the country.
The clarification underscores that Trump’s involvement is focused on negotiating a framework for the app’s restoration and compliance with U.S. regulations, rather than engaging in an outright acquisition or financial transaction involving TikTok or its parent company, ByteDance.
CNN News Report | Archived Link
How did Trump manage to overturn the TikTok ban?
On his inauguration day, President Trump signed an executive order suspending the TikTok ban, which took effect on Sunday, for 75 days. This extension allows time to explore solutions, such as a joint venture, to address national security concerns.
TikTok has issued an official statement thanking President Donald Trump for providing clarity and assurance to service providers that they will not face penalties for offering TikTok to over 170 million Americans. The platform also highlighted the positive impact this has on over 7 million small businesses. TikTok expressed its commitment to working with President Trump on a long-term solution to keep the app available and operational in the United States.
Based on a report from Forbes, Fact Crescendo found that several individuals, including billionaire Frank McCourt, former Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, and YouTuber MrBeast, have expressed interest in buying TikTok. There’s also speculation about Elon Musk as a potential buyer, though he hasn’t publicly commented on it. Musk, a vocal Trump supporter, was appointed by Trump to co-lead the Department of Government Efficiency with Vivek Ramaswamy.
For more information and specifics regarding this article, you can find the details below.
TikTok is still owned by ByteDance, which was founded by Zhang Yiming in 2012. Despite various discussions about potential sales or restructuring due to national security concerns, ByteDance remains the owner of TikTok as of now. ByteDance has faced significant pressure, particularly from U.S. lawmakers, to divest TikTok’s operations in the United States, but no official sale has occurred yet.
We have also found that the CEO of TikTok currently is still Shou Zi Chew. He became the CEO in April 2021. Before taking on this role, Shou Zi Chew held various leadership positions at ByteDance, TikTok’s parent company. He has a background in finance, having worked at companies such as Xiaomi and DST Global.
CNN News Report | Archived Link
The claims surrounding the TikTok ban in the U.S. have recently also been fact-checked and verified by the Fact Crescendo team. These verifications help clarify the situation regarding the app’s operational status and the actions taken by U.S. authorities, including the executive orders and temporary suspensions of the ban.
You can find more information through the links below:
Follow Us and Stay Up to Date with Our Latest Fact Checks.
Facebook | Twitter | Telegram | Google News | TikTok | WhatsApp
Conclusion
Fact Crescendo found that the claim, accompanied by the photo posted on social media, is false. As of this article published, Donald Trump did not buy TikTok. However, as President, he signed an executive order on January 20, 2025, granting a 75-day extension for TikTok to operate in the U.S., despite legal restrictions tied to its Chinese ownership.
