the president Donald Trump on Tuesday reiterated his view that the US should own half of TikTok and said he would favor X owner Elon Musk or Oracle founder Larry Ellison buying the Chinese-linked social media app.

Trump signed the executive order on Monday, his first day in office Gives more time to TikTok to operate and comply with the law, which forces the platform's Beijing-based owner ByteDance to either hand over the software to an American buyer or shut down the platform in the United States

Elon Musk, right, speaks with President Donald Trump. (Photo by Brandon Bell/Getty Images/Getty Images)

He asked Trump a question during the press conference announcing this the massive Stargate AI infrastructure projectOracle will buy TikTok, covering OpenAI and Softbank, whether it will be open to its close ally Musk.

“If he wanted to buy it, I would, yes,” the president replied, adding, “I'd like Larry to buy it, too,” nodding to Ellison, who was there.

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Trump told the press that he met with the current owners of TikTok and told the press, “I have the right to make a deal. So the deal I'm thinking about…” He turned to Ellison and said, “Larry, let's negotiate.” in front of the media”.

Oracle founder Larry Ellison, right, listens to a speech by President Donald Trump in the Roosevelt Room of the White House on January 21, 2025 in Washington, DC. (JIM WATSON/AFP via Getty Images/Getty Images)

The president said that the deal he's thinking about is that someone would buy TikTok and give half of it to the United States, and we'll let you, and they'll be a great partner.

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After explaining the deal, Trump turned to Ellison and said, “Sounds reasonable. What do you think?”

Ellison replied, “Sounds like a good job to me, Mr. President.” Trump later turned to the press and said of Ellison, “He's got a shot at it, too.”

TikTok shut down its US operations on Saturday, a day before the deadline to shut down under the law. However, the platform The US has resumed operations After Trump on Sunday promised to sign an executive order extending the deadline to reach a deal that protects America's national security.

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“By doing this, we are saving TikTok, keeping it in good hands and letting it (remain). Without US approval, there is no TikTok. With our approval, it is worth hundreds of billions of dollars – maybe trillions,” Trump said on the social network on Sunday. wrote. “Therefore, my initial view is a joint venture between the current owners and/or new owners, with the U.S. acquiring 50% ownership in the joint venture between the U.S. and whatever purchase we choose.”

FOX Business' Danielle Wallace contributed to this report.