U.S. President Donald Trump has signed an executive order approving a landmark $14 billion deal that transfers majority ownership of TikTok’s American operations to U.S. investors, including Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison and private equity firm Silver Lake. The move, aimed at addressing long-standing national security concerns over the app’s Chinese parent company ByteDance, ensures TikTok remains available to its 170 million U.S. users.
Under the agreement, U.S. investors will control about 80% of TikTok’s American business, while ByteDance’s stake will fall below 20%, leaving it without authority over content moderation or the app’s closely guarded algorithm. Trump hailed the deal as a breakthrough, adding that Chinese President Xi Jinping had given his approval. “They’re on board,” he said, marking a rare point of consensus between Washington and Beijing.
Vice President J.D. Vance, who played a key role in negotiations, emphasized that U.S. oversight of TikTok’s algorithm was non-negotiable. “This deal ensures American users are protected from foreign manipulation,” he said.
The executive order comes on the heels of legislation signed by President Joe Biden, mandating that ByteDance divest its U.S. interests or face a nationwide ban. The Biden administration has not yet responded to Trump’s decision, raising questions about how the deal will move forward.
Analysts note that while the agreement signals a major step toward resolving fears of foreign influence, significant details remain. Some suggest China’s approval may be linked to wider trade and diplomatic talks underway between the two nations.
If completed, the TikTok agreement could redefine how governments exert control over foreign-owned digital platforms, setting a precedent for similar actions in the United States and beyond.
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