In a major development for social media users in the U.S., President Donald Trump has signed an executive order that effectively allows TikTok to continue operating in the country, albeit under American control. The move comes after years of back-and-forth over the app’s ownership and national security concerns tied to its Chinese parent company, ByteDance.
The deal, which Vice President JD Vance says values TikTok’s U.S. branch at around $14 billion, will transfer control of the platform’s U.S. operations to a group of American investors. This decision follows the signing of a national security law by former President Joe Biden, which required TikTok to either sell its U.S. operations or face a ban. Trump’s new order puts that law on hold for 120 days, giving time for the deal to go through.
While ByteDance hasn’t publicly confirmed the agreement, it did state on September 19, promising to comply with relevant laws and keep TikTok available for American users. Meanwhile, Trump mentioned that he spoke directly with China’s President Xi Jinping, who gave his blessing for the deal to move forward.
As part of the arrangement, TikTok’s U.S. division will set up a new board of directors and shift control of sensitive components — like its recommendation algorithm and content moderation systems — to the American owners. Oracle, a U.S.-based tech giant, will handle security operations and provide the app’s computing infrastructure.
“This is going to be American-operated all the way,” Trump said, emphasizing the app’s new U.S. ownership. Oracle, investment firm Silver Lake, and MGX, an Abu Dhabi-based company, are expected to collectively hold a 45% stake in TikTok’s U.S. entity.
Vice President Vance added that this agreement should give Americans more confidence in using the app, knowing their data is secure and less likely to be exploited for propaganda. Trump also assured reporters that TikTok’s algorithm would be politically neutral, promising fair treatment for all views — including MAGA content.
Interestingly, this isn’t the first time Trump has pushed for TikTok to be sold. He first raised the issue in 2020, and while the Biden administration later continued the effort, Trump’s latest executive order has now officially reopened the door for a U.S.-controlled TikTok.
About the Author
