U.S. President Donald Trump has said that several high-profile American business leaders—including media moguls Rupert Murdoch and Lachlan Murdoch, Dell founder Michael Dell, and Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison—may be directly involved in a landmark deal that would shift control of TikTok in the United States into American hands.
The announcement comes after months of delays, political debates, and national security concerns over the Chinese-owned platform. Trump’s latest comments suggest that the controversial future of TikTok in the U.S. could be headed toward a compromise in which American corporations and investors take majority control, effectively preventing a nationwide ban on the popular social app.
Murdochs, Dell, and Ellison Named as Potential Stakeholders
Speaking in an interview with Fox News—part of the media empire owned by Rupert Murdoch—Trump said the Murdochs were among those he expected to participate in the U.S. TikTok deal. Lachlan Murdoch currently serves as Executive Chair and CEO of Fox Corporation. Rupert Murdoch, his father, remains an influential figure in American and global media.
Alongside the Murdochs, Trump named Michael Dell, the founder and long-serving CEO of the global technology company Dell Technologies. Dell is known for transforming the personal computer industry and later building one of the world’s leading technology infrastructure companies.
Ellison, the billionaire technology executive behind Oracle and one of the wealthiest men in the world, had already been linked to earlier TikTok negotiations. Trump confirmed that Ellison’s participation is part of the new deal-making effort.
“These are really great people, very prominent people,” Trump said. “And they’re also American patriots—you know, they love this country. I think they’re going to do a really good job.”
Role of Oracle and the U.S. Oversight Plan
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt provided further details about the proposed deal. She confirmed that Oracle would lead TikTok’s U.S. data storage and cybersecurity operations. This role is particularly important because it addresses the primary concern—alleged exposure of American user data to the Chinese government.
Under the new structure, the U.S. side would control six out of seven seats on TikTok’s proposed U.S. governing board. This would give American stakeholders the majority influence in company decisions, while also re-establishing trust with lawmakers who have long insisted that TikTok represents both a business and a political security threat.
The decision to give Oracle the lead role comes as no surprise. Ellison, who has openly supported Trump in the past, has already positioned Oracle as a technology company willing to work closely with Washington on sensitive national security projects, ranging from defense cloud contracts to collaborations on government data infrastructure.
Why TikTok Faces Pressure in the U.S.
TikTok, owned by the Beijing-based tech company ByteDance, has faced scrutiny for years. U.S. intelligence officials and members of both Republican and Democratic parties have repeatedly warned that Chinese authorities could compel ByteDance to share data or manipulate algorithms to influence American users.
One of the most serious claims is that Chinese intelligence could use TikTok’s powerful recommendation algorithm to subtly amplify content favorable to Beijing while suppressing views critical of the Chinese Communist Party. Such manipulation could be extremely difficult to detect, making it a significant geopolitical concern.
Beyond algorithmic fears, policymakers are also worried about the vast amounts of personal data TikTok collects—ranging from browsing behavior to biometric information—that could end up in the wrong hands if Beijing exerts its influence over ByteDance.
Congressional Pressure and Deadlines
In 2023, Congress passed legislation requiring ByteDance to sell TikTok’s U.S. assets by January 2025 or face an outright ban. Lawmakers argued that giving TikTok more time to negotiate would not reduce the risks unless ownership itself changed.
However, Trump, during his administration and after, repeatedly delayed enforcement of the ban. Since then, the decision has been postponed four times, as various negotiations surfaced but stalled over details such as who would own TikTok’s U.S. operations and how data security would be guaranteed.
With the January 2025 deadline looming, the pressure intensified. A bipartisan consensus in Washington emerged that TikTok either needs to be put under majority American ownership or be removed from app stores altogether.
Trump’s Changing Tone on TikTok
Trump’s reshaped stance on the platform has surprised political observers. Initially, he was one of TikTok’s harshest critics, calling the app a “tool of the Chinese Communist Party” and demanding its sale or ban.
But over the weekend, Trump admitted that his view of TikTok had changed. “I wasn’t a fan of TikTok and then I got to use it,” he told reporters. “And then I became a fan and it helped me win an election in a landslide.”
This comment highlighted TikTok’s increasing role in U.S. politics and campaigns. With millions of young users in the United States, TikTok has become a key platform for shaping public opinion, spreading viral political content, and mobilizing voters. Trump’s acknowledgment reveals how deeply the app now intersects with American political life.
Trump’s Call With Xi Jinping
The future of TikTok in the U.S. is not just a business matter—it is also a diplomatic issue. Trump confirmed he spoke directly with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday, describing the conversation as “very productive.”
According to Trump, the two leaders discussed multiple high-priority issues: U.S.–China trade relations, the growing fentanyl crisis, the urgent need to end the Russia–Ukraine war, and most importantly, the TikTok deal.
After the call, Trump posted on Truth Social that “progress” had been made in resolving the political stalemate, including what he described as approval for a TikTok arrangement. “We made progress on many very important issues, including trade, fentanyl, the need to bring the war between Russia and Ukraine to an end, and the approval of the TikTok Deal,” Trump wrote.
On Sunday, speaking at the White House, Trump said Xi had given a green light but stressed that paperwork still needed to be finalized. “It still needs to be signed,” Trump noted, underlining the uncertainty that remains around completing the agreement.
Broader Implications for Tech and Security
If finalized, the TikTok agreement would have sweeping implications for how the U.S. regulates foreign technology firms. It would mark the first time that Washington successfully compelled a Chinese-owned company to restructure ownership on national security grounds, potentially setting a precedent for other platforms with ties to China.
It could also reshape the global debate on digital sovereignty. European countries, Canada, and Australia have already restricted TikTok on government devices, citing security concerns, and may look to the U.S. model if the deal succeeds.
Meanwhile, critics argue that changing ownership may not entirely solve the problem. Some analysts have questioned whether ByteDance’s continued technical involvement could still provide indirect influence, even if governance shifts decisively to the U.S. side.
What Happens Next
For now, the deal is not yet complete. Negotiations are ongoing, and some of the key figures Trump named—including Rupert Murdoch, Lachlan Murdoch, Michael Dell, and Larry Ellison—have not publicly commented on whether they will join the group.
ByteDance has also not issued any statement about Trump’s claims or clarified how it plans to navigate the U.S. demands while balancing regulations in China, where TikTok’s algorithm and technology are considered highly sensitive exports.
What remains clear is that TikTok’s future in the United States continues to hang in the balance. With the January 2025 deadline mandated by Congress still on the books, any delays or breakdowns in negotiations could quickly reignite calls for a complete ban.
The Information is Collected from Sky News and NBC News.