Amazon is Reportedly Attempting to Acquire TikTok in the United States

Imminent to the app's April 5 deadline for acquisition by an American owner to avert a prohibition.

Cfoto/ Future Publishing/ Getty Images

As TikTok approached a potential ban in the United States on its April 5 selling deadline, Amazon allegedly submitted a last-minute proposal to acquire the widely-used Chinese-owned video application, as reported by the New York Times.

“Multiple stakeholders engaged in the discussions seem to regard Amazon’s proposal with skepticism,” according to three individuals acquainted with the situation. The purported proposal was conveyed via a letter addressed to Vice President JD Vance and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, the article stated.

Neither Amazon nor TikTok has issued a statement regarding the matter; however, Amazon's shares increased by 1.3% shortly after the announcement, according to Reuters.

President Donald Trump is set to convene with White House officials on Wednesday to deliberate about the future of TikTok. The discussions involve a prospective arrangement to consolidate many American investors, such as Oracle and Blackstone, to circumvent a formal sale, as reported by persons acquainted with the situation in the New York Times.

Amazon is only the most recent retailer to indicate a formal interest in acquiring the social media startup. In 2020, Microsoft and Walmart submitted a proposal for the company as ByteDance faced early pressure to divest TikTok to an American entity.