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Murdochs likely to be involved in US TikTok deal, Trump says

September 21, 2025

Recent reports indicate a potential deal is forming to keep TikTok operating in the United States, with President Trump revealing that Rupert and Lachlan Murdoch may join Larry Ellison and Michael Dell as investors. The sale is mandated by an April 2024 law requiring ByteDance to sell TikTok's US operations due to concerns about Chinese access to American user data. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt suggested a deal could be finalized "in the coming days," with Oracle potentially controlling data privacy and the algorithm for TikTok's 170 million US users.

Who is affected

  • TikTok's 170 million American users
  • ByteDance (TikTok's Chinese parent company)
  • Potential US investors including Larry Ellison, Michael Dell, and the Murdochs (likely through Fox Corp rather than personally)
  • US media landscape, as two powerful families (the Murdochs and Ellisons) could gain influence over a major social media platform

What action is being taken

  • Negotiations are ongoing between the US and China regarding the sale of TikTok's American operations
  • The White House is indicating a deal could be completed "in the coming days"
  • A group of high-profile investors is forming to purchase TikTok's US operations
  • China is publicly stating it "welcomes negotiations" according to its Commerce Ministry

Why it matters

  • The law passed in April 2024 would ban TikTok in the US unless ByteDance sells its US operations
  • The ban stems from concerns that Beijing could access personal data of TikTok's 170 million American users
  • The deal would transfer control of TikTok's US data privacy and algorithm to American companies, specifically Oracle
  • The proposed arrangement would significantly impact media ownership concentration in the US, with the Murdochs and Ellisons potentially gaining control of a major social media platform

What's next

  • No explicit next steps stated in the article beyond the White House indicating a deal could be signed "in the coming days."

Read full article from source: BBC