Official announcements from ByteDance or major news outlets

Trump Administration Negotiates TikTok Control to Oracle and U.S. Investors, ByteDance Retains Minority Stake

Jan 26, 2025, 12:26 AM

The Trump administration is negotiating a deal to transfer control of TikTok's global operations to Oracle and a group of U.S. investors, according to reports from NPR and other sources. Under the proposed agreement, ByteDance, TikTok's China-based owner, would retain a minority stake in the company. Oracle would oversee critical aspects of the app, including its algorithm, data collection, and software updates, aiming to minimize Chinese ownership and address national security concerns raised by U.S. officials. The app, used by 170 million Americans, faced a Jan. 19 deadline to comply with U.S. divestiture requirements or face a ban. President Trump issued an executive order providing a 75-day extension for TikTok to meet these requirements. The negotiations suggest Oracle's interest in a TikTok stake valued in the tens of billions, while ByteDance believes the app could fetch over $200 billion. The deal is still under discussion, with terms potentially subject to change, and involves other potential investors like Microsoft.