President Trump Extends TikTok Sale Deadline as AppLovin Enters Bidding War

AppLovin proposes a global merger allowing ByteDance to retain a 20% stake, intensifying competition with Oracle and other bidders.

President Trump has extended the deadline for ByteDance to sell TikTok's U.S. operations to June 2025, allowing more time for negotiations.
AppLovin has submitted a late-stage bid proposing a global merger with TikTok, offering ByteDance a 20% equity stake and addressing U.S. national security concerns.
Oracle remains a leading contender, leveraging its role as TikTok's current data host, while Amazon, Microsoft, and private equity firms are also in the race.
AppLovin's proposal includes offering the U.S. sovereign wealth fund a stake in the deal, aiming to align U.S. economic interests with TikTok's success.
The Chinese government must approve any deal, with its refusal to sell TikTok's algorithm independently remaining a significant obstacle.