The future of TikTok in the United States is moving closer to resolution. Over the weekend, President Donald Trump confirmed that Rupert and Lachlan Murdoch, along with Oracle’s Larry Ellison and Dell Technologies CEO Michael Dell, are likely participants in the deal to restructure TikTok under majority U.S. ownership.
The development follows a federal mandate requiring ByteDance to divest its U.S. operations or face a nationwide ban.
Trump Confirms Murdoch Involvement
Speaking in an interview with Fox News, Trump revealed that Lachlan Murdoch is directly “involved” in the takeover discussions. He added that Rupert Murdoch may also join the investor group.
It remains unclear whether the Murdochs’ role will be personal investments or through Fox Corporation, which Lachlan currently leads as CEO. Reports from Deadline suggest Fox is in active talks to participate in the consortium.
Key Investors in the TikTok U.S. Deal
The investor group is expected to bring together several U.S. heavyweights:
- Oracle – set to lead TikTok’s security and safety framework.
- Michael Dell (Dell Technologies CEO) – likely to invest directly.
- Andreessen Horowitz – Silicon Valley venture capital firm.
- Silver Lake Management – private equity investor.
- Murdoch Family (Fox Corporation possibility) – potential media influence in the deal.
According to reports, ByteDance will retain less than 20% of the new TikTok U.S. entity.
Governance and Board Structure
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed that the agreement is largely finalised:
- U.S. representatives will control six out of seven board seats.
- TikTok’s algorithm oversight will be managed within the United States.
- Only final signatures remain before the deal is official.
“All of those details have already been agreed upon. Now we just need this deal to be signed, which I anticipate happening in the coming days,” Leavitt said.
Geopolitical Context
The restructuring has not only U.S. but also global geopolitical implications.
- Trump confirmed he spoke with Chinese President Xi Jinping, who approved the agreement.
- TikTok issued a statement thanking both leaders for helping preserve its operations in the U.S.
- The company reiterated that ByteDance will comply with all applicable laws to ensure TikTok remains accessible to American users.
Backstory: TikTok’s Rocky Path in the U.S.
TikTok’s ownership dispute has been ongoing for over a year.
- A federal bill mandated TikTok’s U.S. ban unless ByteDance sold its operations.
- The app was briefly unavailable earlier this year until Trump extended deadlines.
- With 170 million U.S. users, TikTok has become a cultural giant but faces scrutiny over data privacy and national security risks.
- Previous takeover bids included Amazon, though that deal fell through.
Trump had earlier declared that TikTok must be at least 50% U.S.-owned, tying its survival to government approval.
Conclusion
If finalised, the TikTok U.S. takeover deal will:
- Restructure ownership under majority American control.
- Address national security concerns by moving algorithm oversight to the U.S.
- Keep TikTok accessible to its 170 million American users.
With Trump confirming the involvement of Murdochs, Oracle, Dell, and major investors, the agreement marks one of the most significant shakeups in social media history.
