Security News > 2020 > August > Microsoft to Keep Exploring TikTok Deal After Talks With Trump
Microsoft announced Sunday it would continue talks to acquire the US operations of popular video-sharing app TikTok, after meeting with President Donald Trump who seemingly backed off his earlier threats to ban the Chinese-owned platform.
"Following a conversation between Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella and President Donald J Trump, Microsoft is prepared to continue discussions to explore a purchase of TikTok in the United States," the company said in a statement, acknowledging the "Importance of addressing the President's concerns" over national security.
In its statement, Microsoft said it plans to "Build on the experience TikTok users currently love, while adding world-class security, privacy, and digital safety protections."
Buying TikTok would give Microsoft a chance to break into the social networking market.
"China has hired a whole bunch of American lobbyists. They put a puppet CEO in charge of that company," he told Fox News, referring to former Disney executive Kevin Mayer, who became the CEO of TikTok in May. On Friday evening Trump indicated he opposed a takeover of TikTok by an American company, a solution nevertheless agreed to by most of the involved parties, including ByteDance, according to The New York Times.