Just days before TikTok’s April 5 deadline to sell or face a potential ban in the U.S., Amazon has reportedly thrown its hat in the ring with a last-minute bid to acquire the massively popular video app, according to The New York Times.
Despite the surprise move, insiders suggest Amazon’s bid isn’t being taken too seriously. According to three sources familiar with the discussions, the offer came in the form of a letter sent to Vice President JD Vance and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick. However, there’s little indication that negotiations are progressing.
Neither Amazon nor TikTok has commented on the matter, but following the news, Amazon’s stock saw a slight uptick, rising 1.3%, Reuters reported.
Meanwhile, former President Donald Trump is set to meet with White House officials on Wednesday to discuss TikTok’s future. Among the options reportedly on the table is a deal that would allow several American investors—including Oracle and Blackstone—to take control of TikTok without requiring a formal sale.
Amazon isn’t the first major company to express interest in acquiring TikTok. Back in 2020, Microsoft and Walmart made a joint bid when ByteDance, TikTok’s Chinese parent company, faced similar pressure to sell to a U.S. owner.
With the deadline fast approaching, all eyes are on Washington and TikTok’s next move—whether that’s a sale, a legal battle, or another unexpected twist.
