(NewsNation) — Donald Trump said he would be open to ally and Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) leader Elon Musk buying the social media platform TikTok.
“I’d like Larry (Ellison) to buy it too,” Trump said Tuesday, referencing the Oracle executive chairman investing in Stargate.
Trump said he wants TikTok to be at least half-owned by U.S. investors.
“It’s worthless if you don’t get a permit. … Let the United States give the permit, and the United States should get half. Sounds reasonable,” he said.
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When asked if he has the social media app on his phone, Trump responded, “I think I might put it there. I think I’ll get it right now. … I have a warm spot in my heart for TikTok.”
At the same address Tuesday, Trump also took questions from journalists regarding Russian sanctions, tariffs, immigration and more.
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TikTok restored service to U.S. users Sunday afternoon and credited Trump for pushing to keep the app operational.
“In agreement with our service providers, TikTok is in the process of restoring service,” TikTok said in a statement posted to the social platform X.
“We thank President Trump for providing the necessary clarity and assurance to our service providers that they will face no penalties providing TikTok to over 170 million Americans and allowing over 7 million small businesses to thrive,” it continued.
The app briefly went dark in America before being given a reprieve by a presidential executive order on Monday.
Elon Musk, who has become close with Trump, posted last week to his own social media app X: “I have been against a TikTok ban for a long time, because it goes against freedom of speech. That said, the current situation where TikTok is allowed to operate in America, but 𝕏 is not allowed to operate in China is unbalanced. Something needs to change.”
In 2020, Trump tried to ban TikTok with an executive order, but two courts later shut his efforts down.
NewsNation’s Patrick Djordjevic contributed to this report.
