Bill Gates calls Microsoft’s TikTok deal a ‘poison lime’

Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates described the company’s potential TikTok deal as a “poisoning.” In a broad interview with Wired, Gates makes it clear that Microsoft’s acquisition of TikTok shares will not be easy or simple. “Who knows what will happen with this deal,” Gates says. “But yes, it’s a poisonous cup.” He also notes that a major player in the social media industry “is not a simple game” because Microsoft is facing a whole new level of content moderation.

Asked if Gates is aware of Microsoft in the social media game, he suggests that Facebook’s more competition is “probably a good thing”, but that “Trump is killing the only competitor, it’s bizarre.”

Gates seems to be as confused as the rest of us about how this potential TikTok deal is going, especially with President Trump suggesting that the U.S. Treasury will need some sort of cut from every purchase. “I agree that the principle we follow is actually strange,” Gates says. ‘The cut thing, that’s doubtfully strange. However, Microsoft will have to deal with all of this. ”

Photo by Ryan Manning / The Verge

Gates’ comments come days after Microsoft confirmed it was in a deal to buy TikTok’s operations in the US, Australia, Canada and New Zealand. Reports have also suggested that Microsoft may be considering buying all of TikTok’s global operations, with the Financial Times proposed talks on this particular deal are at the “preliminary” stage.

President Trump also claimed last week that he was a day away from banning TikTok in the US, before later setting a September 15 deadline for Microsoft to close its potential purchase and prevent TikTok from being banned.

It’s a complicated deal that would give Microsoft a large presence in the space on social networks at the risk of being part of a larger trade war between the US and China. Gates is clearly envious of the purchase, but we’re about a month away from seeing it become a reality.