Trump: Murdoch, Ellison, and Dell at the Heart of TikTok Deal
Layla Al MansooriTrump's Tech Allies Circle TikTok as US-China Deal Takes Shape
President Donald Trump has revealed that media mogul Lachlan Murdoch, Oracle's Larry Ellison, and Dell's Michael Dell are among the major business figures working on a deal to transfer TikTok's US operations from Chinese parent company ByteDance to American ownership. The arrangement would put Trump's corporate allies in control of a social media platform that reaches 170 million Americans and significantly shapes political and cultural discourse.
The Players Behind the Deal
Speaking on Fox News' "The Sunday Briefing," Trump praised the investor group as "prominent people" and "American patriots." The lineup reads like a who's who of Trump-friendly tech and media executives.
Lachlan Murdoch runs Fox Corporation, the media empire that includes Fox News. Larry Ellison, Oracle's co-founder, has been a longtime Trump supporter and hosted fundraisers at his Hawaiian estate. Michael Dell built his computer company into a tech giant and has maintained ties with Republican leadership.
Trump credited TikTok with helping solidify his support among young voters during the 2024 presidential campaign. "I think they're going to do a really good job," he said of the proposed ownership group.
Why This Deal Matters Now
The timing isn't coincidental. TikTok faced a potential ban in the US over national security concerns about its Chinese ownership. ByteDance has been under pressure to sell its American operations or risk losing access to the lucrative US market.
But this isn't just about business. It's about control of information flow. TikTok's algorithm determines what millions of Americans see daily, influencing everything from political opinions to consumer behavior. Having Trump allies in charge fundamentally changes that dynamic.
The National Security Angle
US officials have long worried that ByteDance could share American user data with the Chinese government or manipulate content to serve Beijing's interests. Transferring ownership to American hands addresses these concerns on paper, though critics argue the real issue is algorithmic transparency, not just ownership nationality.
What This Means for Users and Markets
For TikTok's 170 million American users, the change might be invisible at first. The app would likely continue operating normally while new owners figure out long-term strategy.
But investors are watching closely. TikTok's US operations could be worth $50 billion or more, making this one of the largest tech acquisitions in history. The deal also sets a precedent for how America handles foreign-owned tech platforms.
Comparing Global Approaches
Other countries have taken different paths. India banned TikTok outright in 2020 amid border tensions with China. The European Union has focused on data protection regulations rather than forced sales. Singapore allows TikTok to operate but requires local data storage.
The US approach of demanding American ownership while allowing continued operations represents a middle ground between outright bans and regulatory oversight.
The Broader Tech Power Play
This deal reflects a larger shift in how America views Chinese tech companies. Under both Trump and Biden administrations, Washington has moved to limit Chinese influence in critical technology sectors.
The proposed TikTok ownership change follows similar patterns with other Chinese companies. Huawei was effectively banned from US telecom networks. Chinese apps faced scrutiny and restrictions. ByteDance selling TikTok's US operations fits this broader decoupling trend.
For Trump, the deal offers political benefits too. He can claim credit for protecting national security while maintaining a platform that helped his 2024 campaign. Having loyal business allies control TikTok also gives him indirect influence over a major media platform.
The arrangement still needs regulatory approval and final negotiations between the US and China. But with Trump back in office and his business allies lined up as buyers, the deal has strong political momentum behind it.
