In a significant update for social media users across the United States, former President Donald Trump has signed an executive order that paves the way for TikTok to remain operational in the country — but with one key condition: it must be run under American ownership. This decision follows prolonged debates over the platform’s ties to its Chinese parent company, ByteDance, and ongoing national security concerns surrounding user data and foreign influence.
According to Vice President JD Vance, the value of TikTok’s U.S. operations is estimated at around $14 billion. The deal involves selling control of the platform’s American segment to a consortium of U.S. investors. This step was triggered by a national security law introduced during President Joe Biden’s administration, which required TikTok to either sell its U.S. business or be banned entirely. Trump’s latest executive order temporarily suspends the enforcement of that law for 120 days, giving the deal time to be finalized.
Although ByteDance has yet to publicly confirm the agreement, the company did release a statement on September 19, saying it would follow all applicable laws to ensure that TikTok continues to be available to American users. Trump also shared that he had a direct conversation with China’s President Xi Jinping about the matter and received his approval to proceed with the arrangement.
Under the terms of the deal, TikTok’s U.S. arm will establish a new board of directors and transfer control of critical components — including its recommendation algorithm and content moderation tools — to its new American owners. Oracle, a major U.S. tech company, will be responsible for managing the app’s security and cloud infrastructure.
Trump stressed that the platform will now be “American-operated all the way,” and noted that Oracle, Silver Lake, and Abu Dhabi-based MGX are expected to acquire a 45% stake in the newly formed U.S. company. Vice President Vance added that the deal will increase trust among users by ensuring better data protection and reducing the risk of the app being misused for foreign propaganda. Trump also promised that the algorithm would not be politically biased, stating that content from all viewpoints, including those supportive of MAGA, would be treated fairly.
This move marks a continuation of Trump’s efforts, which began in 2020, to push for American oversight of TikTok. Although the Biden administration pursued similar actions, Trump’s new executive order has officially reignited the process of placing the platform under U.S. control.