Popular YouTuber Jimmy Donaldson, known as MrBeast, announced his intention to purchase TikTok in collaboration with a group of investors. The move comes as President Donald Trump extended the deadline for ByteDance, TikTok’s Chinese-based parent company, to divest its U.S. operations within 75 days to avoid a ban on the platform.

Speculation began last week after MrBeast posted on X (formerly Twitter), “Okay fine, I’ll buy TikTok so it doesn’t get banned.” Initially taken as a joke, MrBeast confirmed his serious intentions in a video days later, stating, “I just got out of a meeting with a bunch of billionaires. TikTok, we mean business.” He added that his team, including his lawyer, has prepared an offer.

The group of investors partnering with MrBeast is led by Jesse Tinsley, founder of Employer.com, and includes institutional investors and high-net-worth individuals. In a statement, Tinsley described their proposal as a solution that allows TikTok to operate in the U.S. while addressing national security concerns. Specifics of the bid, including the proposed amount, remain undisclosed.

The sale of TikTok has been a key focus of the Trump administration due to national security concerns over data privacy. TikTok’s Chinese ownership has raised alarms in Washington about the potential for user data to be accessed by the Chinese Communist Party. Bipartisan support in Congress has favored banning TikTok unless ByteDance divests its U.S. operations.

President Trump has indicated support for a deal that would allow TikTok to continue operating under U.S. ownership, provided it resolves security concerns. It remains unclear whether ByteDance is open to selling and how MrBeast’s group stacks up against other potential buyers.

If successful, MrBeast’s involvement could mark an unprecedented entry into the tech industry for the YouTuber, whose philanthropic and business ventures have already set him apart as a digital innovator.