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On January 20, 2025, an array of notable figures, including Mark Zuckerberg, Lauren Sanchez, Jeff Bezos, Sundar Pichai, and Elon Musk, attended the inauguration of Donald J. Trump, marking the commencement of his second term as the 47th president of the United States at the U.S. Capitol Rotunda in Washington, DC.
In a recent development, Amazon has submitted a formal proposal to acquire the popular social media app TikTok from its Chinese parent company, an offer confirmed by CNBC. This proposal was delivered via a letter to Vice President JD Vance and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and was initiated just ahead of an impending deadline that could lead to a ban on the app in the United States.
Sources familiar with the negotiations, who requested anonymity due to the sensitive nature of the discussions, indicated that the seriousness of Amazon’s bid is presently under scrutiny. The timing of the submission, occurring mere days before a critical deadline, raises questions about its feasibility and intent. Amazon has opted not to provide any public comments regarding the bid.
The communications surrounding this bid arise amid uncertainty regarding TikTok’s operational future in the U.S. The application could face a shutdown on April 5 if ByteDance, TikTok’s parent company, fails to finalize an agreement to divest its American operations. Last year, legislators enacted a bill which set a deadline of January 19 for such a sale; however, Trump later issued an executive order extending this period by 75 days to facilitate negotiations.
According to sources privy to the situation, Trump might disclose his decision regarding TikTok’s U.S. operations as early as Wednesday. Additionally, reports have surfaced about another mobile technology entity, AppLovin, making its own offer for the popular app.
TikTok has rapidly transformed into a significant player in e-commerce, heavily investing in its online shopping feature, TikTok Shop. With an impressive user base of over 170 million, the app presents a potentially valuable asset for Amazon, particularly as the e-commerce giant seeks to expand its footprint in social commerce. Notably, Amazon previously attempted to launch its own short-form video service, though it was eventually discontinued.
An existing partnership between TikTok and Amazon has allowed users to connect their TikTok accounts to Amazon, enabling seamless purchasing without leaving the TikTok app. This collaboration, however, has drawn attention from lawmakers concerned about possible national security implications.
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