Shark Tank’s O’Leary: U.S. TikTok Deal Could Improve China Relations
**Shark Tank’s O’Leary: U.S. TikTok Deal Could Improve China Relations**
By Kaya Yurieff
6 hours ago
Source: The Information
Kevin O'Leary, the "Shark Tank" host who is working with billionaire Frank McCourt on an effort to buy TikTok’s U.S. assets, said a deal could be a chance to show improved U.S. and China relations.
"What do these two leaders want to signal to the world about cooperation?" O'Leary said on Friday at South by Southwest, the annual tech and arts festival in Austin, referring to U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping.
"If both countries want to advance the idea of a more cooperative environment, what a fantastic brand to start with," O'Leary said, referring to TikTok.
Bidders like McCourt have been in the dark about Chinese parent company ByteDance's willingness to sell the app. McCourt, who is spearheading an attempt to buy TikTok through his entity Project Liberty, said it's a "big question right now" if ByteDance is willing to sell the app. O'Leary said he thinks "something is going to get worked out," but said he was "speculating."
Earlier this week, President Donald Trump said he would be willing to extend the deadline for a sale of TikTok if a deal is not reached by April 5.