Kevin O’Leary, a star of “Shark Tank” affectionally known as Mr. Wonderful says he’s ready to dive into his next venture.
But he’ll need some help from President-elect Donald Trump.
During a Monday appearance on Fox News’ “The Story with Martha MacCallum”, O’Leary discussed his intentions to purchase the popular social media app TikTok.
But relented that he’ll need Trump’s assistance to make it happen.
“Trump will be who we have to work with to close the deal in the months ahead. So I wanted to let him know, as well as others in his cabinet, that we’re doing this, and we’re going to need their help,” O’Leary said, per The Wrap.
The “Shark Tank” star also posted on X about the potential purchase, saying he was “excited” to partner with former Dodgers owner Frank McCourt’s Project Liberty “to lead The People’s Bid for TikTok.”
I’m excited to share that I’m partnering with Frank McCourt and the visionary team at @pro_jectliberty to lead The People’s Bid for TikTok!
This isn’t just about buying TikTok’s U.S. assets. It’s about something much bigger: protecting the privacy of 170 million American users.… pic.twitter.com/kzxk5RfEgY
— Kevin O'Leary aka Mr. Wonderful (@kevinolearytv) January 6, 2025
“This isn’t just about buying TikTok’s U.S. assets,” he wrote in a post shared on Monday. “It’s about something much bigger: protecting the privacy of 170 million American users. It’s about empowering creators and small businesses. And it’s about building a platform that prioritizes PEOPLE over algorithms.”
“TikTok has immense potential, not just as a tool for creators but as a driver of meaningful economic and social impact. Together, we’re working to create an American-owned platform that is secure, innovative, and puts YOU in control of your data and digital relationships,” O’Leary added.
TikTok is facing removal from Apple and Google app stores in the United States due to a federal ban signed by President Joe Biden last spring due to security concerns.
In December, Trump petitioned the Supreme Court to delay the ban from going into effect so he could have time to negotiate a potential deal.