Amazon joins race to acquire TikTok ahead of US ban deadline

In a dramatic turn of events, Amazon has reportedly made a last-minute bid to acquire TikTok, just days before the April 5 deadline for the app to secure a non-Chinese buyer or face a ban in the United States. A US administration official confirmed the development on Wednesday.

President Donald Trump is expected to deliberate TikTok’s fate in an Oval Office meeting, where he will review final proposals for the platform’s sale.

While Amazon has not commented on the matter, shares of the tech giant saw a 1.3% rise following reports of its interest in the acquisition. TikTok and its Chinese parent company, ByteDance, have yet to respond.

Amazon’s bid adds to the growing list of potential buyers for TikTok’s US operations.

Read more: Elon Musk denies interest in buying TikTok amid US ban efforts

Last month, Trump revealed that his administration was in discussions with four different groups regarding the sale, though he did not disclose their identities.

Meanwhile, private equity firm Blackstone is reportedly exploring a partnership with ByteDance’s existing non-Chinese shareholders—including Susquehanna International Group and General Atlantic—to inject fresh capital into a bid for the video-sharing platform.