President Donald Trump has signed an executive order that could keep TikTok operating in the United States under new ownership.
The deal would see American investors, including Oracle and Silver Lake Partners, buy TikTok from China’s ByteDance. However, the deal is not yet final and needs China’s approval. Trump said Chinese President Xi Jinping has agreed to move forward.
Vice President JD Vance admitted there was “some resistance on the Chinese side.” He stressed the goal was to keep TikTok running while protecting Americans’ data.
The order gives all parties 120 days to finalise the sale. President Joe Biden had previously signed a law demanding ByteDance sell its US assets or face a ban.
Under the current plan, American investors would control about 80% of the new venture. ByteDance would hold less than 20% and have limited influence over security matters. The board will be led by US investors.
The algorithm will be a licensed copy retrained using only US data. Officials say this will stop any Chinese interference.
TikTok is a major news source for young Americans. Around 43% of adults under 30 use it regularly, according to Pew Research.
Observers say changes to ownership could reshape how the platform operates. While Trump joked about making it “100% MAGA,” he claimed all viewpoints would be treated fairly.
Analysts warn user reactions will determine whether TikTok remains as influential under US control.
