Staff Reports
President Trump has once again proven his knack for keeping things interesting in the world of politics, this time by expressing openness to Elon Musk potentially purchasing TikTok. All of this comes just a day after Trump signed an order to push back the federal ban on the controversial app. It’s as if he’s playing a game of chess while the rest of the political arena is stuck on checkers.
Trump, who has an artful way of stirring the pot, made it clear that while TikTok might seem like a digital dumpster fire, it still has plenty of lucrative potential—especially with the proper permits. He hinted that should Musk get his hands on the app, it could culminate in a deal worth around a trillion dollars, a staggering sum that would make anyone’s head spin. Seems like the former president sees more valuable pixels in TikTok than just dance videos and lip-sync battles.
The suggestion is simple yet genius: let Musk buy the app but with a twist—half of the profits should go back to the United States. This could turn TikTok from a suspect Chinese app into a cash cow for American coffers, all while keeping it operational in the good ol’ U.S. of A. Mr. Trump, with his usual flair, pitched this idea alongside a cheeky jab at Larry Ellison, the CEO of Oracle, implying he should also get involved in the TikTok negotiations. Who wouldn’t want to negotiate a multi-billion-dollar deal right in front of cameras? It’s a much-needed break from the mundane legislative discussions.
Trump’s recent change of heart regarding TikTok highlights an interesting strategy—turning a potential liability into an electoral asset. He humorously attributed his newfound affection for the app to the 36-point youth vote victory he claims to have garnered in the last election, thanks to the app’s extensive reach. Clearly, Trump is willing to pivot and embrace whatever serves his electoral ambitions, and he’s not shy about it.
Trump says he'd consider allowing Elon Musk to buy TikTok https://t.co/6zs5lOU6CO
— The Washington Times (@WashTimes) January 22, 2025
Amidst all this drama, TikTok’s owners are desperately fighting back against the looming ban with futile legal battles, clinging to the notion that banning the app violates the First Amendment. However, the Supreme Court recently dismissed their pleas, upholding the ban, which was enacted post haste by President Biden after a bipartisan congressional effort. Clearly, approval to operate in the U.S. is the golden ticket, and Trump is positioning himself as the gatekeeper of that golden gate.
In a world dominated by fleeting trends and headline news, Trump proves time and again that he knows how to keep the media circus lively. Whether it’s discussing potential billion-dollar deals with innovative entrepreneurs like Musk or flipping the script on a Chinese-owned app, there’s never a dull moment in the world of Trump. Each maneuver leaves everyone guessing what’s next in this soap opera of American politics, all while one-liners and potential joint ventures take center stage.
