Trump tries to negotiate TikTok sale on live TV as he defends Capitol riot pardons
Trump tries to negotiate TikTok sale on live TV as he defends Capitol riot pardons
Share:
Donald Trump has attempted to negotiate a potential TikTok sale on live television, in what was supposed to be an announcement about investment in artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure. The US president was holding a news conference about a $500bn (£405bn) investment in AI infrastructure in the country, but was questioned about a range of topics.
At one point he attempted to negotiate the sale of TikTok with American businessman Larry Ellison, who is said to be worth more than $204bn (£165bn). Mr Trump also had to defend some of his actions just one day into his second term. When the topic of TikTok was raised, Mr Trump said he was "open" to his close friend Elon Musk buying the app, adding: "I would be, if he wanted to buy it. I'd like Larry [Ellison] to buy it too.".
He continued: "I have the right to make a deal, the deal I'm thinking about, Larry let's negotiate in front of the media. "The deal I think is this. I've met with the owners of TikTok, the big owners, it's worthless if it doesn't get a permit... with a permit it's worth like a trillion dollars.
Observations from the first days of Trump 2.0: Accessible, a slippery relationship with the truth, and shades of a president. At the US-Mexico border migrants experience the reality of Trump's first few days in office. What does Donald Trump's second presidency mean for the world of sport?.
