Amazon Made Last-Minute Bid To Buy TikTok

April 5 is the new deadline that the US government, led by Donald Trump, has given to anyone interested in buying TikTok, the popular video-sharing platform owned by Chinese company ByteDance, and saving it from being taken offline in the States due to security concerns. Right before it's hit, a new potential buyer emerges — Amazon. 

According to sources of the New York Times, the e-commerce giant submitted its proposal in a letter to Vice President JD Vance and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick just days before the deadline. However, it seems various parties involved in the talks "do not appear to be taking Amazon’s bid seriously." It's unclear yet how much Amazon had offered to acquire it. With this news, Amazon's stock price climbed by around 2%. 

The New York Times' report continues with how the e-commerce giant could benefit from the deal if it's made true. With a huge user base of 170 million in the United States, TikTok has expanded its business from a UGC platform to other commerce, including retail shopping, where the influencers promote products to the viewers and recommend them to buy on Amazon so they get a cut from the transactions. 

As the deadline draws closer, there are some other companies also joining the team of interested buyers, including Zoop, a startup led by Tim Stokely, founder of the adult entertainment site OnlyFans, AppLovin, and private equity firm Blackstone.

On Wednesday, Trump held a meeting with key members of the White House to discuss possible choices for TikTok. Last month, he mentioned that he was in talks with four different groups about the sale, although he did not specify their names.