President Donald Trump has revealed that Microsoft is in talks to acquire TikTok's US operations, according to a report by Bloomberg. This development comes after Trump signed an executive order last week to delay the TikTok ban deadline by 75 days, giving the popular social media app a temporary reprieve.

Trump's statement suggests that there is significant interest in TikTok, with multiple bidders vying for control of the app's US operations. "There's great interest in TikTok," Trump said, adding that "there will be a lot of people bidding on it." This is not the first time Microsoft has been linked to a potential TikTok acquisition, as the tech giant was reportedly in the running to buy the app back in 2020, along with Oracle.

The 2020 negotiations were sparked by Trump's pressure on TikTok's Chinese parent company, ByteDance, to divest its US operations or face a ban. The app's Chinese ownership has been a point of contention, with concerns raised about data privacy and national security. While the app is currently back online, it remains unavailable for download from app stores.

In addition to Microsoft and Oracle, other bidders have emerged, including Perplexity AI, which has submitted a proposal to merge with TikTok. Billionaire Frank McCourt has also made a formal offer to buy the social network. Notably, Trump has previously expressed openness to Tesla CEO Elon Musk or Oracle chairman Larry Ellison buying TikTok, highlighting the complexity of the negotiations.

The ongoing saga surrounding TikTok's ownership has significant implications for the tech industry, particularly in the realm of social media and data privacy. As the negotiations unfold, it remains to be seen which bidder will ultimately emerge victorious and what the consequences will be for TikTok's users and the broader tech landscape.

One thing is certain, however: the fate of TikTok's US operations hangs in the balance, with the outcome of these negotiations set to have far-reaching consequences for the tech industry and beyond. As the situation continues to evolve, one thing is clear – the battle for control of TikTok is far from over.