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US President Donald Trump has said that tech giant Oracle would be “a great company” to take over TikTok’s US operations.
It comes after Oracle was reported as a potential buyer of the company’s Chinese social media app in North America, Australia and New Zealand.
Last week, Mr. Trump ordered the owner of TikTok ByteDance to sell her U.S. business within 90 days when face down
Oracle’s chairman Larry Ellison is a supporter of Mr. Trump and held a fundraising event for him in February.
Mr Trump’s remarks – during a speech in Yuma, Arizona – came after reports that Oracle was working on an offer for some TikTok assets with a group of ByteDance investors.
According to those reports, Oracle is seriously considering buying TikTok companies in the US, Canada, Australia and New Zealand with investment firms including General Atlantic and Sequoia Capital.
In February, Oracle co-founder Larry Ellision held a high-profile fundraiser for Mr Trump at his private golf course and estate in California.
Earlier this month, Mr. Trump said the government should receive a “substantial portion” of TikTok’s U.S. unit sales price if a U.S. company buys it.
Where is TikTok currently located in the US?
Last week, the White House said that a government panel that converts foreign transactions – the US Foreign Investment Commission – had recommended that ByteDance distribute TikTok’s US operations within 90 days.
Mr. Trump said there was “credible evidence” that TikTok was used by ByteDance to break US security.
ByteDance has repeatedly denied that it did not share user data properly.
Washington’s attacks on TikTok have been seen by many commentators as part of its ongoing trade conflict with Beijing.
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Who are the competing bidders for TikTok?
Microsoft has been the leading candidate to buy those TikTok companies, as it publicly said earlier this month that it had held talks with ByteDance.
Rival social media company Twitter has also reportedly approached the owner of TikTok byteDance to express an interest in buying its US operations.
This year, the hugely popular short video sharing app reached 2 billion downloads worldwide.
Meanwhile, Mr. Trump has joined Triller, a New York-based rival to TikTok.
