NextFin news, WASHINGTON — On Thursday, September 25, 2025, President Donald Trump signed an executive order authorizing American investors to acquire the U.S. assets of TikTok, the popular social media platform owned by Chinese company ByteDance. This move is intended to ensure TikTok's continued operation in the United States while addressing national security concerns.
The executive order follows legislation signed by President Joe Biden last year, which mandated that ByteDance sell TikTok's U.S. operations to an American company by early 2025 or face a ban in the United States. Trump's order declares that the proposed sale plan meets the national security requirements outlined by U.S. law.
The deal, valued at approximately $14 billion, involves a consortium of American investors, including Oracle, Walmart, and other partners, who will take ownership of TikTok's U.S. operations. The agreement aims to separate TikTok's U.S. data and operations from its Chinese parent company to mitigate concerns over data privacy and potential foreign influence.
Trump emphasized that the executive order is designed to protect American users and national security interests while allowing TikTok to continue serving its large user base in the United States. The administration has been negotiating the terms of the sale to ensure compliance with U.S. regulations and oversight.
Chinese officials have expressed cautious optimism about the deal, viewing it as a potential step toward resolving ongoing trade and technology tensions between the U.S. and China. However, some details of the agreement remain under negotiation, particularly regarding control over TikTok's algorithm and data management.
The executive order represents the latest development in a multi-year effort by the U.S. government to address concerns about foreign ownership of technology platforms that handle sensitive user data. TikTok remains one of the most popular social media apps among American teenagers and young adults, making the resolution of its ownership status a significant issue for both national security and the digital economy.
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