President Donald Trump confirmed Monday night that Microsoft Corp. is in discussions to acquire the US arm of ByteDance Ltd.’s TikTok, though he provided few details. Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, Trump acknowledged the growing interest in the short-video platform, which boasts over 170 million American users.

“A lot of interest in TikTok. There’s great interest in TikTok,” Trump remarked when asked about Microsoft’s involvement.

The news comes amid heightened activity surrounding TikTok’s future in the United States. In addition to Microsoft, AI startup Perplexity and billionaire Frank McCourt, the former owner of the Los Angeles Dodgers, have reportedly expressed interest in acquiring the app. Microsoft and Oracle Corp. were previously contenders for TikTok’s US operations in 2020 when Trump pressured ByteDance to sell or face a ban, citing national security concerns.

Microsoft has not commented on its involvement in the ongoing talks.

Earlier Monday, Trump addressed Republican lawmakers in Florida, where he hinted at the negotiations. While he initially advocated for banning TikTok on national security grounds, his stance has evolved, partly influenced by the platform’s popularity among pro-Trump content creators.

“We’ll see what happens. We’re going to have a lot of people bidding on it, and if we can save all that voice and all the jobs—and China won’t be involved—we don’t want China involved, but we’ll see what happens,” Trump said.

The president has given ByteDance a 75-day window to sell its US operations to a domestic buyer. He also encouraged competitive bids, emphasizing the potential benefits of a bidding war.

“I like bidding wars because you make your best deal. So if there’s a bidding war, that’s a good thing,” Trump added.

The developments signal a renewed push to resolve TikTok’s contentious standing in the US while securing its future as a domestically-owned platform free from perceived foreign influence.