Taker Carlson was in the White House list for potential investors from Tiktok

Open the newsletter to watch the White House for free

Your guide to what the second period of Trump means to Washington, business and the world

The White House has placed Tucker Carlson on the list of potential investors in Tiktok as it raced to find buyers for the application earlier this year, according to the people familiar with the matter.

JiD Vans, who chose President Donald Trump to oversee the Tijook deal, who called for Carlson, said two people. Among the other potential investors on the list is the capital capital company Andressen Horowitz and Blackstone Special stock giant.

The discussions came when the administration sought an agreement Tikhak Before the deadline on April 5, the Chinese owner, to sell the application or face its ban in the United States.

The ban was legislated by the American conference last year. Trump twice extended the deadline, first from January to April, then from April to June 19, and said he could delay this again.

The proposed role of the White House Carlson In a deal to buy the application was not clear. However, the inclusion of the right -wing media star in the list indicates that the Trump administration is still keen to maintain Tijk in the United States – and may bring the president’s allies to its ownership.

Carlson told the Financial Times last month that he was not aware that he was on the list of potential investors at the White House.

“I don’t know anything about it,” Carlson told FT. “In my knowledge, I read that the Tiktok deal was suspended due to the trade war, due to the definitions.”

He added: “I can say this,” I was completely opposed and remained completely opposed to the US Congress that prohibits social media applications because they do not like what it is … I opposed the Tiktok ban and was accused of being a supporter of Chinese material, which is not. “

A spokesman for the vice president declined to comment. Carlson did not respond to other requests to comment, and Nile Patel, CEO of Taker Karlson, said that “nothing he adds.” Tiktok did not respond to a request for comment.

Before the deadline in April, the White House was closing in a deal that would revolve around Tiktok from Bytedance and the establishment of an American company to receive new investments, and reduce the risks of Chinese investors.

Under the conditions of this deal, investors, including Andrink Horwatz and Blackstone owned about half of the American Tiktok, while the large investors, including General Atlantic, Suskahna, and KKR, were carrying about 30 percent of the new entity.

However, Beijing did not give her blessing to this deal after Trump launched a new trade war on China. The suggestion of ice remains, according to people, who are aware of this issue.

In May, he told Trump NBC He had a “small warm spot in my heart for tiktok”, which he used to reach the younger voters in the 2024 elections.