US President Donald Trump on Thursday signed an executive order approving a US-led takeover of TikTok’s American operations, effectively clearing a major obstacle for the app’s continued presence in the United States. The order determined that the proposed deal, which would transfer control of the platform to American investors, satisfactorily addresses national security concerns that had threatened a potential nationwide ban on the popular video-sharing app.
Under the proposed arrangement, TikTok would be restructured into a new US-based joint venture. American investors, including Oracle and private equity firm Silver Lake, are set to hold approximately 80% of the company, while China’s ByteDance would retain a minority stake of 20% or less. The governance structure will largely favor US control, with most board seats allocated to American stakeholders and ByteDance granted only a single seat, excluded from national security-related committees.
Trump highlighted that Chinese President Xi Jinping had approved the agreement, while making a lighthearted comment about making TikTok “100% MAGA,” though he added that the app’s content policies would be fairly implemented. Vice President JD Vance emphasized that American control over TikTok’s recommendation algorithm would prevent the platform from being used as a propaganda tool by foreign governments, ensuring equitable access to all users.
TikTok has faced ongoing uncertainty in the US since last year, following legislation signed by President Joe Biden requiring ByteDance to sell the platform’s US assets or face a ban. Trump’s executive order follows several previous directives that temporarily extended TikTok’s operations while negotiations over a US takeover continued.
With 170 million users in the United States—including 15 million following Trump’s personal account—the platform represents a significant digital presence. Key American figures expected to participate in the acquisition include Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison, media mogul Rupert Murdoch, and Dell founder Michael Dell. The deal is seen as a strategic move to ensure TikTok’s US operations remain under American ownership while addressing national security concerns related to data access and content governance.
