Amazon has stunned the tech world with a last-minute bid to acquire TikTok, the hugely popular video-sharing platform currently facing a US ban over national security concerns linked to its Chinese ownership.
The move comes just days ahead of a critical enforcement deadline. Under legislation signed into law in April 2024 by then-President Joe Biden, TikTok’s Chinese parent company, ByteDance, was ordered to divest its US operations or face a nationwide ban. The deadline, repeatedly delayed, is now set to expire this Saturday.
According to the New York Times, Amazon submitted its bid as a last-ditch effort to acquire the entire platform — a deal that would catapult the e-commerce giant into the centre of the social media and digital advertising landscape. However, sources in Washington suggest administration officials are not treating Amazon’s offer as a serious contender at this stage.
TikTok, which boasts around 170 million US users, has become one of the most powerful digital platforms in America, not just as a media outlet but also as a fast-growing e-commerce channel generating millions of dollars in daily sales.
Amazon’s approach underscores both the strategic importance of the platform and the increasingly chaotic political backdrop in Washington. In addition to Amazon, other potential suitors reportedly include Oracle, Microsoft, Walmart, and even YouTube personality MrBeast.
The flurry of bids follows months of legal and political wrangling. ByteDance initially failed to secure a buyer ahead of the original deadline and briefly took TikTok offline on 19 January, just one day before President Donald Trump’s second inauguration.
Despite having previously pushed for a ban during his first term, Trump reversed his position in early 2025, allowing the app to resume operations. His administration has since come under fire for defying court rulings and delaying enforcement of a law that had been upheld by the Supreme Court.
Trump’s move came after an intensive lobbying campaign by TikTok and a wave of user-led pressure on lawmakers. Although the Supreme Court unanimously upheld the constitutionality of the divestment requirement, the platform has remained operational due to Trump’s intervention.
Amazon has confirmed that it sent a formal letter to Vice President JD Vance and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick outlining its interest in acquiring TikTok. The bid reflects Amazon’s wider ambitions in media, advertising and social commerce — sectors where TikTok holds significant influence.
Whether ByteDance is willing — or able — to reach a sale agreement with any US entity before the Saturday deadline remains uncertain. But the implications are clear: with multiple tech giants circling and political pressure mounting, the outcome of this high-stakes deal could redefine the future of digital media and e-commerce in the US and beyond.
