US TikTok Deal Nears Completion: Murdochs, Oracle, and Dell Tipped to Lead U.S. Takeover

The future of TikTok in the United States is moving toward resolution, with President Donald Trump confirming that media moguls Rupert and Lachlan Murdoch could join the investor group set to acquire the app’s U.S. operations.

Speaking in an interview with Fox News, Trump revealed that Lachlan Murdoch is “involved” in the deal and hinted that Rupert Murdoch might also participate. He added that Oracle’s executive chairman Larry Ellison and Dell Technologies CEO Michael Dell are expected to play key roles in the consortium.

U.S. Majority Control Over TikTok

According to the White House, the restructuring plan would spin TikTok off from its Chinese parent company, ByteDance, with American investors holding majority ownership.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt disclosed that the agreement has been reached in principle, with U.S. representatives controlling six out of seven board seats in the restructured company. TikTok’s algorithm will also be overseen within the U.S.

“All of those details have already been agreed upon,” Leavitt stated. “Now we just need this deal to be signed, which I anticipate happening in the coming days.”

Who’s Backing the Deal?

Reports from Bloomberg and Deadline indicate that new investors could include:

• Oracle – expected to take the lead on TikTok’s U.S. security and safety framework.
• Andreessen Horowitz – the venture capital giant.
• Silver Lake Management – a private equity firm with significant U.S. tech investments.
• Fox Corporation – reportedly in active talks to join through Lachlan Murdoch’s leadership.

ByteDance would retain less than 20% of the new entity, ensuring majority American control.

Political and Geopolitical Context

The deal follows a federal bill mandating a TikTok ban unless ByteDance divests its U.S. operations. Earlier this year, the app faced temporary removal from U.S. app stores until Trump extended deadlines for a sale.

Adding international weight, Trump confirmed he had spoken with Chinese President Xi Jinping, who gave approval for the restructuring. In a statement, TikTok thanked both leaders for “preserving TikTok in the United States” and pledged to comply with U.S. laws under its new structure.

Why It Matters

• 170 million Americans use TikTok, making it a cultural giant among younger audiences.
• Both Republicans and Democrats have raised concerns about data privacy and national security tied to ByteDance’s Chinese ownership.
• A completed sale would ease security fears while allowing TikTok to continue operating in its largest market.

If finalized, the deal would mark one of the most significant tech restructurings in U.S.–China relations, reshaping control of a platform central to global social media.