WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump signed an executive order Thursday to sell TikTok’s U.S. operations to American and global investors, positioning the popular social media platform at the center of a high-stakes international technology transaction.
The new U.S. entity will be valued at approximately $14 billion, significantly lower than some market estimates, according to Vice President JD Vance. The deal aims to address national security requirements outlined in a 2024 legislative mandate.
Trump has strategically delayed enforcement of the law mandating TikTok’s divestment until December 16, creating a complex negotiation landscape involving ByteDance, American investors, and international stakeholders.
“This is going to be American-operated all the way,” Trump declared, highlighting prominent investors like Michael Dell and Rupert Murdoch as potential participants in the transaction.
Under the proposed agreement, ByteDance will retain less than 20% ownership, with Americans controlling six of seven board seats. The critical recommendation algorithm’s ownership remains a key unresolved detail.
“We wanted to keep TikTok operating while protecting Americans’ data privacy,” Vance told reporters at an Oval Office briefing.
The executive order comes as TikTok boasts 170 million U.S. users, a user base Trump credits as instrumental in his recent electoral victory. The White House has even launched an official TikTok account, underscoring the platform’s political significance.
While market analysts like Dan Ives previously estimated TikTok’s value between $30-$40 billion, the current proposed valuation reflects complex geopolitical negotiations.
