lipflip – The long-running dispute over TikTok’s ownership appears to be nearing resolution following a new executive order from President Trump. On Thursday, Trump announced a US-based joint venture will take control of TikTok’s operations, algorithms, and user data. This move comes after months of negotiations and political pressure to address national security concerns tied to Chinese ownership.
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The new deal would transfer majority control of TikTok to American investors. With China’s ByteDance retaining only a 20% minority stake. The agreement also mandates all US user data be stored within the United States. This aims to resolve fears that the Chinese government could access American user data, a concern ByteDance has consistently denied.
Trump said he spoke directly with China’s President Xi Jinping, who reportedly approved the arrangement. “They’re on board,” Trump stated. “I told him what we were doing and he said, ‘Go ahead with it.’” Although the executive order outlines a new ownership structure. It does not provide a specific timeline for when the transition will take effect.
The order refers to the deal as a “Framework Agreement,” indicating some elements are still being finalized between the parties involved. It also remains unclear whether US TikTok users will need to download a new version of the app after the ownership transfer.
The White House emphasized that US investors and tech companies will control TikTok’s algorithms, which are central to its popularity and influence. Vice President JD Vance confirmed that the deal values TikTok at $14 billion and ensures long-term US oversight of the platform’s technology and moderation policies.
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While the executive order does not list the companies involved in the venture, Trump named several key business leaders connected to the deal. Oracle cofounder Larry Ellison, Dell CEO Michael Dell, and media executive Rupert Murdoch are reportedly involved. Trump noted, “Oracle is playing a big part,” though the exact ownership structure is still being worked out.
This decision follows the Biden administration’s earlier push to ban TikTok unless ByteDance divested its US operations. Instead of enforcing an outright ban, Trump has repeatedly extended deadlines to allow negotiations to continue. Thursday’s announcement signals a potential end to the uncertainty surrounding TikTok’s future in the US.
Vice President Vance emphasized that the platform will remain open and fair to all users. “Young people love this,” Vance said. “We want everyone to access it, whether they’re MAGA or not.” Trump also addressed concerns that a US-owned TikTok could become politically biased. “If I could make it 100% MAGA, I would,” he joked. “But it’s not going to work out that way unfortunately.”
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Despite the ongoing questions, the executive order represents a major shift in TikTok’s US operations. The White House has said it will release further details in the coming days. For now, the move marks a rare moment of agreement between the US and China on a high-profile tech issue, although implementation remains uncertain. All eyes will be on how and when the transition unfolds—and how it reshapes one of the world’s most popular social apps.