Catenaa, Friday, September 26, 2025- US President Donald Trump signed an executive order Thursday approving the sale of TikTok’s US operations to US and global investors, declaring the transaction addresses national security requirements under a 2024 law.
The deal values the US company at roughly $14 billion, far below some analyst estimates, and delays enforcement of the law banning TikTok until January 20, 2026.
The new US entity will be jointly owned, with Oracle and private-equity firm Silver Lake taking a combined 50% stake.
ByteDance will retain less than 20%, appointing one of seven board members while Americans control the other six.
The order specifies that TikTok’s recommendation algorithm will be retrained and monitored by the US company’s security partners, though details about algorithm control remain unclear.
Vice President JD Vance confirmed investors include Michael Dell, Rupert Murdoch, and several other high-profile financiers.
The US company will oversee digital security, content, software, and e-commerce operations while linking with international TikTok activities.
Chinese President Xi Jinping has reportedly approved the plan, though ByteDance may continue an operational role and retain some revenue from the US joint venture, according to Chinese media reports.
Trump emphasized the sale ensures TikTok remains operational while protecting Americans’ data privacy. Lawmakers, including Republican House members, have called for additional details to confirm a clean separation from Chinese control and influence.
Analysts note the $14 billion valuation contrasts sharply with ByteDance’s overall worth exceeding $330 billion and prior estimates valuing TikTok’s US operations at $30 billion to $40 billion without the algorithm.
