Amazon is making a last-minute move to acquire TikTok. The tech giant has reportedly submitted an offer to buy the popular video platform from Chinese company ByteDance.
This comes just days before a U.S. deadline that could force the app to be banned nationwide.
According to CNBC, Amazon sent a letter this week to U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick.
The proposal was unexpected and arrived at a critical moment. However, sources say government officials are not taking the offer seriously due to its timing.
Amazon has not made any public comments on the matter.
U.S. Pressure on ByteDance to Sell
The battle over TikTok has been going on for months. In April 2024, then-President Joe Biden signed a law that could ban the app unless ByteDance sells its stake.
U.S. officials worry that the Chinese government could use TikTok to spy on American users. ByteDance has repeatedly denied these claims.
On January 18, 2025, TikTok was officially shut down in the U.S. as the ban took effect. However, just a day later, access was restored.
Former President Donald Trump, who returned to office in January, announced that he had brought the platform back to Americans.
Now, ByteDance faces a crucial decision. The company has until April 5 to finalize a sale. If it fails to do so, TikTok could be permanently banned in the U.S.
What’s Next for TikTok?
General Atlantic, a major investor in ByteDance, has confirmed that discussions with U.S. officials are ongoing.
CEO Bill Ford has stated that ByteDance is working to find a solution that will allow TikTok to remain available in the country.
It remains unclear if Amazon’s offer will change anything. With the deadline approaching fast, ByteDance must act quickly if it wants to keep TikTok in the U.S. market.
