President Donald Trump has announced a significant development in the ongoing negotiations to bring TikTok’s American operations under U.S. ownership, revealing that prominent figures from the corporate and media world—including Lachlan Murdoch, Larry Ellison, and Michael Dell—would be involved as investors in a proposed deal. The deal aims to transfer the majority ownership of TikTok’s U.S. assets from its Chinese parent company, ByteDance, to a consortium of American investors, ensuring the platform continues to operate in the United States under stringent national security and cybersecurity oversight.
According to Trump, who discussed the arrangement during an interview on Fox News’s “The Sunday Briefing,” the investors involved are “American patriots” who will do a “really good job” managing the app, which boasts around 170 million users in the U.S. He credited TikTok with helping build his support among younger voters ahead of the 2024 election. The involvement of Lachlan Murdoch, CEO of Fox Corp., marks a notable crossover between media and big tech interests, as the Murdoch family recently secured long-term control over their media empire, including Fox News and The Wall Street Journal. Trump also indicated that his father, Rupert Murdoch, a conservative media magnate, may be involved in the deal.
Industry sources have clarified that any investment by the Murdochs would come through Fox Corp rather than as individuals, and News Corp—the parent company of The Wall Street Journal and The New York Post—is not participating. This complicates public perceptions given Trump’s ongoing defamation lawsuit against Rupert Murdoch and The Wall Street Journal over reports related to Trump’s past connections to Jeffrey Epstein.
Alongside the Murdochs, Larry Ellison, co-founder of Oracle and a major Republican donor, and Michael Dell, CEO of Dell Technologies, are expected to be key players in this consortium. Oracle’s role is particularly significant; reports suggest that American user data would be hosted on Oracle-managed infrastructure, a measure designed to address U.S. national security concerns. Ellison’s deep involvement reflects a broader strategy to establish strict control over data and algorithm operations within the U.S., including a board of directors with expertise in security overseeing TikTok’s American entity.
Sources indicate this move follows a bipartisan congressional effort that sought to ban TikTok unless it was sold to American investors, stemming from fears that the Chinese government could exploit access to U.S. user data. The Biden administration passed a law requiring ByteDance to divest its U.S. operations by January 2025, though enforcement has been deferred to allow negotiations to conclude. Trump’s administration has taken an unusual approach by including TikTok in wide-ranging economic discussions with China, alongside other unconventional business interventions, such as an investment stake in Intel and dealings with Nvidia.
Reports from the Wall Street Journal and Reuters detail that the deal involves a consortium led by Oracle, Silver Lake, and Andreessen Horowitz, expected to hold around 80% of TikTok’s U.S. operations, while ByteDance would retain less than 20%. The new U.S. entity would operate on an independent algorithm, and U.S. TikTok users would be asked to migrate to a new version of the app tailored specifically for the American market, enhancing data security.
Trump revealed that the deal had reportedly gained the approval of Chinese President Xi Jinping and that he expected to finalise the agreement imminently, potentially through an executive order that would delay enforcement of the existing divestiture law. The deal carries a deadline for completion set around mid-December 2025.
While the proposed arrangement is hailed by Trump as a patriotic effort securing American control over a critical platform, experts warn of potential risks. Some have expressed concern that heavy involvement by politically connected investors could lead to U.S. political interference in a platform that plays a central role in shaping culture and public discourse. This adds another layer of complexity to the ongoing debate over TikTok’s place in the U.S. digital landscape.
In summary, the emerging TikTok deal exemplifies a high-stakes intersection of geopolitics, technology, and media influence. With stalwart investors such as the Murdoch family, Larry Ellison, and Michael Dell at the forefront, the agreement underscores the U.S. government’s priority to safeguard national security while navigating the challenges posed by a globally influential social media platform originally rooted in China.
Source: Noah Wire Services
Noah Fact Check Pro
The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first
emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may
warrant further investigation.
Freshness check
Score:
10
Notes:
The narrative is current, with the earliest known publication date being September 19, 2025. ([reuters.com](https://www.reuters.com/world/china/trump-says-chinas-xi-approved-tiktok-deal-2025-09-19/?utm_source=openai)) The report is based on a recent announcement by President Donald Trump, indicating high freshness.
Quotes check
Score:
10
Notes:
The direct quotes from President Trump are unique to this report, with no earlier matches found online. This suggests the content is original or exclusive.
Source reliability
Score:
9
Notes:
The narrative originates from The Indian Express, a reputable news organisation. However, the report is based on information from Reuters, which is also a reliable source. The involvement of multiple reputable sources enhances the credibility of the information.
Plausability check
Score:
9
Notes:
The claims about the involvement of Lachlan Murdoch, Michael Dell, and Larry Ellison in the TikTok deal are corroborated by multiple reputable sources, including Reuters and The Indian Express. ([reuters.com](https://www.reuters.com/world/china/trump-says-chinas-xi-approved-tiktok-deal-2025-09-19/?utm_source=openai)) The narrative aligns with recent developments and statements from President Trump, indicating high plausibility.
Overall assessment
Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): PASS
Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): HIGH
Summary:
The narrative is fresh, original, and supported by multiple reputable sources, with no significant discrepancies or signs of disinformation. The involvement of prominent figures in the TikTok deal is corroborated by recent reports, enhancing the credibility of the information.
