‘Shark Tank’ Star Kevin O’Leary Says He’s Nearing Deal To Purchase TikTok, Seeks Trump’s Help To Close It
‘Shark Tank’ Star Kevin O’Leary Says He’s Nearing Deal To Purchase TikTok, Seeks Trump’s Help To Close It
Shark Tank entrepreneur Kevin O’Leary is attempting to save TikTok from being banned in the U.S.
During a recent appearance on Fox News, the Canadian businessman announced his plans to purchase the American assets of the popular social media app before its potential ban on Jan. 19.
O’Leary spoke about the matter in a post on X, writing:
“This isn’t just about buying TikTok’s U.S. assets. It’s about something much bigger: protecting the privacy of 170 million American users.”
He continued:
“It’s about empowering creators and small businesses. And it’s about building a platform that prioritizes PEOPLE over algorithms.”
View this post on Instagram
Partnering with former Dodgers owner Frank McCourt, O’Leary said he’s aiming to transform TikTok into an American-owned platform that prioritizes user privacy and supports creators and small businesses.
O’Leary emphasized that the deal will require collaboration with President-elect Donald Trump and his administration, stating in the interview:
“Trump will be who we have to work with to close the deal in the months ahead. So I wanted to let him know, as well as others in his cabinet, that we’re doing this, and we’re going to need their help.”
TikTok, currently owned by Chinese tech giant Bytedance, is facing removal from U.S. app stores following a federal ban signed by President Joe Biden due to national security concerns. O’Leary’s proposal aims to address these issues while preserving the app’s economic and cultural impact.
Do you think Kevin will be successful in getting the deal done? Let us know in the comments!