Microsoft Corp (NASDAQ:MSFT) is said to be in the running to make an offer for ban-threatened TikTok, according to US President Donald Trump.
Trump cited “great interest in TikTok” from a string of companies when speaking to reporters.
Asked whether Microsoft was preparing an offer for the video-sharing app, he replied: “I would say yes.”
TikTok had temporarily been taken offline for its 75 million users in the US ahead of Trump’s inauguration last week, as a ban under predecessor Joe Biden approached.
Trump then delayed the ban for 75 days, offering more time for Beijing-based parent ByteDance to avoid the measure by selling the app’s US operations.
Microsoft told BBC News the company had “nothing to share at this time” regarding a bid.
ByteDance had approached Microsoft over a possible offer in August 2020, though was met with the technology giant’s management dubbing the move “the strangest thing”.
Were Microsoft to make an offer, it would join the likes of former Dodgers owner Frank McCourt and reality show’s Shark Tank’s Kevin O'Leary, alongside YouTuber Jimmy Donaldson, or MrBeast, as among those said to be in the running for TikTok.