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Walmart considers buying TikTok with other investors — Source

Walmart is actively exploring the possibility of joining a group of investors to purchase TikTok, according to sources familiar with the deal.

The retail giant’s interest reportedly grew after Amazon entered the race to acquire the popular video-sharing app.

Back in 2020, Walmart had partnered with Microsoft in a previous attempt to bid for TikTok. The app would provide Walmart access to hundreds of millions of users, expanding its advertising reach and boosting its e-commerce business.

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The renewed interest comes amid expectations that President Donald Trump will sign an executive order on Friday to extend the April 5 deadline for TikTok to be banned or sold by its Chinese parent company, ByteDance.

According to a source close to the deal who spoke to ABC News, the Trump administration is considering a proposal that would allow China to retain control of TikTok’s algorithm, which would be leased to a US company with a minority ownership stake.

It remains unclear whether this arrangement would comply with the bipartisan law passed by Congress. The legislation mandates that ByteDance must sell TikTok or face a US ban.

Several investors are said to be interested in the acquisition, including Amazon, Oracle, and Applovin. A source close to the matter also confirmed that Tim Stokely, founder of the adult content site OnlyFans, has submitted a late-stage bid to acquire TikTok.

Neither the White House nor Walmart have responded to requests for comment.

Speaking aboard Air Force One on Thursday, President Trump suggested that the newly announced tariffs on China could be used as leverage in negotiations over a potential TikTok deal.

Trump said, “If somebody said that we’re going to give you something that’s so phenomenal, as long as they’re giving us something, that’s good.

“We have a situation with TikTok where China will probably say, ‘We’ll approve a deal, but will you do something on the tariff?

“The tariffs give us great power to negotiate.”

Even if the US approves a deal, Chinese authorities will still need to sign off. Tensions between the two countries remain high, with the US poised to impose a 54% tariff on Chinese imports. In response, China is retaliating with a 34% tariff on US goods.

(ABC News)