As Trump outlines a proposal for a sale, and a TikTok board member says a deal is possible, another bidder has entered the fray: the YouTube star MrBeast.

The United States government has proposed the sale of TikTok in order to continue the platform's operations in the country. President Trump has encouraged potential buyers to acquire 50 percent of TikTok, suggesting the remaining half be given to the United States. Despite the Chinese parent company, ByteDance, initially resisting a sale, a board member has recently predicted that a deal is likely.

A number of high-profile figures have expressed interest in purchasing TikTok. Among them is Jimmy Donaldson, popularly known as MrBeast, a YouTube influencer with a massive following. Donaldson has claimed to have the backing of several billionaires and expressed eagerness to acquire TikTok. Elon Musk is also rumored to be a potential buyer, with reports indicating a possible partial purchase by Chinese officials. President Trump has shown openness to this idea alongside other potential buyers such as Oracle's Larry Ellison and a consortium featuring Kevin O'Leary and Frank McCourt.

The urgency to find a buyer is driven by the significant role TikTok plays for many of its U.S. users, beyond entertainment to livelihoods and careers. However, any American buyer may face challenges due to the likely exclusion of TikTok's highly effective recommendation algorithm from the transaction. This algorithm is integral to the platform's engagement success, setting TikTok apart from competitors like Instagram and Facebook.



YouTube star MrBeast offers to buy TikTok

With a 75-day clock well past its starting gun, the outlines of a possible deal to purchase TikTok are starting to take shape, driven in no small measure by President Trump, who's pressing potential buyers to purchase 50 percent of TikTok. What I'm thinking about saying to somebody is buy it and give half to the United States of America, half, and we'll give you the permit. On inauguration day, Trump gave TikTok a 75-day reprieve before being banned in the U.S., unless the platform's operations in the U.S. are sold to an American buyer. Until now, TikTok's Chinese parent company, ByteDance, has rejected a sale. But a board member of ByteDance now predicts there will be some type of deal. Do you believe a deal will get done? Yes. You do believe a deal will get done? So who are the best known potential buyers? I might become your guys' new CEO. I'm super excited. Mr. Beast, the super influencer on YouTube with more followers on that platform than anyone, almost 350 million, claims he's putting in a bid for TikTok. Just got out of a meeting with a bunch of billionaires. TikTok, we mean business. This is my lawyer right here. We have an offer ready for you. We want to buy the platform. America deserves TikTok. Give me a seat at the table. Let me save this platform, TikTok. The engaging 26-year-old star, whose real name is Jimmy Donaldson, has made a fortune and a gigantic following, posting videos of contests, stunts and huge giveaways. It makes sense why you would want to have an influencer who understands these platforms so well. What makes them work? What makes users attracted to them? Another potential purchaser? None other than the first buddy, Elon Musk, who Chinese officials have been thinking of selling at least a portion of TikTok to, according to the Wall Street Journal and Bloomberg. Why would the Chinese want to do that? Because they would have an in with Trump. Elon Musk has become such an ally to Donald Trump. There's no question that China wants to develop that relationship further. President Trump, Musk's new boss, was asked about that idea. Are you open to Elon buying TikTok? I would be if he wanted to buy it, yeah. Trump says he's also in favor of Oracle CEO Larry Ellison buying TikTok. There's also been a bid from a group including Shark Tank's Kevin O'Leary and former Los Angeles Dodgers owner Frank McCourt. How anxious are TikTok users in the U.S. for anyone to step up and buy it? I mean, it's huge. These are people who rely on this platform for not just dance videos and cat videos, but many, many cases for their careers, for their livelihoods. CNN's Claire Duffy says any American buyer would most likely have at least one big challenge. They would probably have to buy TikTok's U.S. operations without the app's really successful algorithm. The formula that TikTok uses to feed you the best videos to keep you hooked instead of videos and pictures from your friends like you see on Instagram and Facebook.

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