'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,/9j/2wBDAAYEBQYFBAYGBQYHBwYIChAKCgkJChQODwwQFxQYGBcUFhYaHSUfGhsjHBYWICwgIyYnKSopGR8tMC0oMCUoKSj/2wBDAQcHBwoIChMKChMoGhYaKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCj/wAARCAAHAAoDASIAAhEBAxEB/8QAFgABAQEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAYH/8QAHhAAAgEEAwEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAQMCAAQRIQUGEgf/xAAVAQEBAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAACA//EABgRAAMBAQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAABAgMR/9oADAMBAAIRAxEAPwDN7foLX/Lo8mhCHQTKVy24JEWCIHkwGskDWicZ2Kgrjjp272ImB6XIwOCMZBxSlDTNTXEXi20f/9k='%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Shark Tank's Kevin O’Leary is no stranger to bold statements, but when he called the ongoing TikTok negotiations “a crazy chicken deal,” it wasn’t just about drama—it was about the complex dance of business, tech, and global politics.
Speaking recently about TikTok's future in the U.S., the Shark Tank investor shared an insider's view of what’s really happening behind the scenes.
“The TikTok deal’s a very interesting situation,”
he said.
“We were told last week by Senator Cotton that no one could use the algorithm. If you're gonna buy TikTok you have to write it from scratch.”
And that’s not the only hurdle.
“He will not provide an indemnification because the penalties are so heavy,”
O’Leary continued, referencing legal risks tied to the platform’s Chinese ownership.
“This deal is a crazy chicken deal.”
But this isn’t just a tech issue—it’s a geopolitical game, and the Shark Tank star made one thing clear: no real move can happen without China. Or more specifically, Xi Jinping.
Why Shark Tank’s Kevin O’Leary is invested in the TikTok chaos
As a leading investor and fixture on Shark Tank, O’Leary is deeply involved in the business world, and TikTok’s uncertain future is more than a passing interest to him—it’s business.
“There’s a lot of syndicates, and I’m part of one, that wants to buy it,”
he said.
But there's a catch, he states. No one can proceed until there's a signal from the top.
“We can’t do anything until Xi talks,”
O’Leary explained.
“This is a golden share company. It’s controlled by Xi.”
The government’s stance makes things tricky.
“If TikTok has to be part of the negotiation, let it be,”
O’Leary added, suggesting it may be bundled into broader political discussions. And if you’re wondering where Donald Trump fits into this—yes, he’s involved too.
“He’s talked to Xi about this,”
O’Leary confirmed.
“Because frankly this is low on the list of things to worry about right now.”
Trump, tariffs, and TikTok: Where does it all connect?
For anyone trying to follow the TikTok storyline, it’s become clear that it’s not just about videos and dances anymore. The real conversation is happening in the realm of trade, technology, and international relations.
The Shark Tank investor believes TikTok is just one small piece of a much larger puzzle.
“The minute Xi calls Trump, I bet you TikTok’s number nine on the list they’re gonna be talking about.”
The context here is key. The U.S. and China have a long history of trade tensions, especially during Trump’s presidency, and TikTok—owned by Beijing-based ByteDance—is now caught in the middle of it.
While a ban has been floated in Congress, and the bill to force a sale of TikTok is making its way through the system, O’Leary seems skeptical that anything definitive will happen before a real political conversation between Trump and Xi takes place.
The countdown is on: 70 days and a lot of uncertainty
“This deal is a crazy chicken deal,”
O’Leary said, and for good reason. The clock is ticking, and the stakes are high. According to O’Leary,
“There’s still 70 or 66 days left, you never know what’s gonna happen on this deal.”
He’s referring to the deadline that would force ByteDance to divest TikTok in the U.S., or face a potential ban. But as with everything in politics and business, it’s not just about the timeline—it’s about who’s willing to talk and what’s being negotiated behind closed doors.
For fans of Shark Tank, this kind of real-world business drama hits close to home. It’s not a pitch for a protein bar or fitness app—it’s a global platform with millions of American users and billions in revenue potential. And the sharks are circling.
Trending
While the average Shark Tank pitch lasts just a few minutes, this TikTok deal is playing out like an epic saga. O’Leary’s take is clear: it’s complicated, it’s political, and it’s not over yet.
But that doesn’t mean investors have given up. The interest is there, the money is there, and the urgency is building. The question is whether the people at the top—Trump, Xi, and key lawmakers—will come to any kind of agreement before the clock runs out.
Reply
