Amazon has submitted a last -minute bid to acquire all Tiktok, the popular video application, as it is approaching the April deadline that will be separated from the Chinese owner or face a ban on the United States, according to three people familiar with the offer.
Various parties involved in the talks do not seem to take seriously the Amazon offer, people said. The offer came through a offer letter addressed to Vice President JD Vance and Howard Lutnick, the Secretary of the Commerce, according to a person informed of the matter.
Amazon’s offer highlights the 11th hour maneuver in Washington for Tiktok’s ownership. Policy -executives in both parties expressed deep concerns about national security about Chinese property ownership and voted for last year to force the sale of Tiktok that will enter into force in January.
President Trump, who has repeatedly pledged to save the application despite national security concerns, has delayed law enforcement until Saturday, even after unanimously confirmed by the Supreme Court.
Amazon refused to comment. Tiktok did not immediately respond to a request for comments.
Mr Trump met with top White House officials on Wednesday to discuss Tiktok’s fate. People who are familiar with talks have described a possible agreement that could involve the transfer of many new US investors, including Oracle, the technological giant. And Blackstone, the private stock company, at the same time bypassing an official sale. But it is not clear that such a structure would satisfy the conditions of federal law.
Amazon has some ties with Tiktok. The video application, which counts 170 million users in the United States, has become an important retail hub, with influences that make up products for viewers. While the company has its own e -commerce business known as a Tiktok store, many influences encourage people to buy products on Amazon, which gives the influencers a cut of transactions. It has also provided some technical infrastructure.
Amazon had previously tried to make a Tiktok clone, called Inspire, in its own application. Internally, it was a high profile initiative, but was widely unsuccessful in attracting buyers. The company has removed it from the application this year.
Amazon is not the first retailer to express interest in the application. In 2020, when Tiktok was first pressured to sell to US owners, Microsoft and Walmart have bid for the company.
But Amazon will be the highest bidder for the company, which has also attracted interest from billionaire Frank McCourt as well as Jesse Tinsley, the founder of the Employer.com payroll company.
The buzz around the company has also invited a series of last -minute offers. On Wednesday, a business called Zoop, whose leaders include the founder of Onlyfans, the adult entertainment area, said he had a bid for US Tiktok companies. Zoop said he was working with a encryption institution for his plan and that he had contacted the White House.
Tiktok argued that he is not for sale, in part, he says, because the Chinese government would prevent an agreement.
Theodore Schleifer They contributed reports.
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