President Donald Trump recently mentioned that several well-known billionaires, including media tycoon Rupert Murdoch and tech entrepreneur Michael Dell, might be involved in negotiations to gain control of TikTok in the U.S. During an interview aired on Fox News, Trump highlighted the potential participation of the Murdochs, who head Fox News and News Corp, as well as Dell, the founder and CEO of Dell Technologies.
“I believe they’ll be part of the group, along with some other outstanding individuals who are true patriots and love this country,” Trump stated. “I have faith they will manage this well.”
The potential involvement of these figures adds an interesting twist to the ongoing discussions about TikTok, which is currently owned by the Chinese company ByteDance. The app has faced scrutiny from U.S. officials, who are concerned that its algorithms could be manipulated by the Chinese government, potentially allowing them to influence American users’ content in subtle ways.
Along with Murdoch and Dell, tech leader Larry Ellison from Oracle is also expected to play a role in this deal. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt mentioned that Oracle will oversee data and security for TikTok, assuring that American interests will dominate with six out of seven board seats reserved for U.S. citizens.
While details about the agreement remain vague, it’s clear that time is of the essence. Trump engaged in a lengthy phone conversation with Chinese leader Xi Jinping recently, discussing the deal. Officials have until December 16 to finalize an arrangement, as the Trump administration has extended the deadline for negotiations.
Congress had previously passed legislation aimed at a TikTok ban set to take effect in January. However, the Trump administration has issued orders that have allowed TikTok to continue its operations in the U.S. while working on a resolution for a sale of its American operations.
Trump admitted to feeling a bit biased towards TikTok, crediting the app for helping him connect with younger voters, a tactic encouraged by conservative activist Charlie Kirk.
Representatives for Ellison, Dell, and the Murdochs have not yet commented on this matter. In a separate legal issue, Trump has initiated a lawsuit against Murdoch and one of his newspapers for publishing a story about the president’s connections to financier Jeffrey Epstein.
