ABC’s Shark Tank star Kevin O’Leary shared on Monday that he has met with President-elect Donald Trump about closing a deal to buy the social media app TikTok.
In an interview on Fox News‘s The Story with Martha MacCallum, O’Leary discussed his latest steps in nearing a purchase of the app from its Chinese parent company ByteDance in hopes of making TikTok an American-owned company and avoiding it being banned in the United States on Jan. 19.
The business investor said he recently met with Trump at Mar-a-Lago about several agenda items, including teaming up with Project Liberty founder Frank McCourt in a bid to buy TikTok.
“It’s a multibillion-dollar deal and we’re gonna have to work with President Trump,” the Shark Tank television personality said, adding, “This is a bipartisan situation — we have to work initially with [Joe] Biden, and we want to, and then midday, Trump will be the person who will have to close the deal.”
“I wanted to let [Trump] know, as well as others in his Cabinet, we’re doing this, and we’re gonna need their help,” he told Fox on Monday.
O’Leary, known as Shark Tank‘s “Mr. Wonderful,” has been a longtime business investor and is now coordinating with McCourt to manage an effort called The People’s Bid for TikTok.
The celebrity businessman has a crowdfunding effort for individuals to register interest at WonderfulTikTok.com, which could take a stake in buying TikTok.
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER
“TikTok has immense potential — not just as a tool for creators and businesses, but as a cornerstone of a more secure, people-centered digital future,” O’Leary said in a statement.
“Together with Frank, we aim to deliver an American-owned platform that safeguards national security while empowering its 170 million U.S. users to thrive. With the January 19 deadline quickly approaching, I’m confident that our shared vision, paired with President-elect Trump’s business acumen, will lead to a deal that benefits everyone,” he added.
