Twitter held preliminary negotiations about potential combination with TikTok

In a report published on the Wall Street Journal today, Twitter Inc has held preliminary negotiations about a potential combination with TikTok. The report added it was unclear whether Twitter will pursue a deal with TikTok, which would involve the video-sharing app’s US operations.

Microsoft is still seen as the front-runner in bidding for the app’s US operations, the newspaper reported.

Prior to this, US President Donald Trump said that he will bar fast-growing video sharing app TikTok from the United States. This came after American authorities have raised concerns the service could be a tool for Chinese intelligence.

Media reports circulated earlier Friday saying that Trump would require the US operations of the app be divested from its Chinese parent firm ByteDance, but the president announced a ban.

Speaking to reporters on Air Force One, Trump said: “As far as TikTok is concerned, we’re banning them from the United States.”

He added he would take action as soon as Saturday using emergency economic power or an executive order. The said decision is backed up by the Committee on Foreign Investment (CFIUS) in the United States, which investigates deals affecting US national security.

TikTok, especially popular with young audiences who create and watch its short-form videos, has an estimated billion across the globe.