US President Donald Trump has expressed openness to Tesla CEO Elon Musk purchasing TikTok. He proposed an unconventional arrangement where the US government would hold a 50% stake in the company in exchange for granting operating permits, according to the Times of India.

"I would be, if he wanted to buy it, yes," Trump stated during a press briefing on Tuesday, January 21. He also suggested Oracle Chairman Larry Ellison as another potential buyer, saying, "I'd like Larry to buy it, too."

This announcement follows Trump’s executive order signed a day earlier, which temporarily suspended TikTok’s ban for 75 days. The action also aligned with a Supreme Court decision requiring ByteDance, TikTok’s Chinese parent company, to divest its US operations.

Trump claimed TikTok’s valuation could reach $1 trillion with the right operational strategy. Analysts, however, currently estimate its US operations to be worth approximately $50 billion. Trump elaborated on his vision, stating, “Buy it and give half to the United States of America. And we'll give you the permit."

The suggestion marks a significant shift in Trump’s stance on TikTok. Back in 2020, he sought to ban the app through executive orders. The change reportedly followed a February meeting with Jeff Yass, a major ByteDance investor and Republican donor.

Meanwhile, Chinese officials seem open to considering a sale. According to Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning, companies should decide acquisitions and business operations based on market principles.

TikTok’s status remains uncertain as Apple and Google continue to withhold the app from their stores due to ongoing US legal restrictions. Existing users, however, have regained access to its services.

Adding to the intrigue, TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew was among the tech leaders attending Trump’s recent inauguration. Others present included Musk, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, and Amazon founder Jeff Bezos.

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