Discussions are in full swing about Microsoft buying TikTok. US President Donald Trump said that Microsoft is one of the American companies that wants to take control of TikTok to help prevent the ban on the popular app in April.

When asked if Microsoft was one of the companies interested in helping bring new ownership to TikTok, Trump told reporters, "I would say yes."

Looking for buyers to give 50 percent stake

• Trump said other companies were also interested in buying TikTok but he would not provide a list.
• In one of his first acts in office last week, Trump extended the deadline for TikTok to find new ownership that satisfies the government by 75 days from Jan. 19 to April 4.
• The president has said he is seeking an eventual buyer to give the US a 50 percent stake in the company, which is owned by China-based ByteDance.
• The details are vague at the moment, and it's unclear whether he is proposing control of the app on behalf of the government or any other US entity.

AI gave the proposal

Last week, artificial intelligence startup Perplexity AI presented a new proposal to ByteDance. It would allow the US government to own up to 50 percent of a new entity that merges Perplexity with TikTok's US business, according to a person familiar with the matter.

What did Donald Trump say?

Several other investors - including billionaire Frank McCourt and Trump's former Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin - have spoken publicly about their desire to buy TikTok's US platform. Trump has also said he has spoken privately to several people about the company.