Trump Signs Order Advancing $14B Sale of TikTok’s U.S. Operations to American, Global Investors

President Donald Trump on Thursday signed an executive order certifying that his administration’s plan to sell TikTok’s U.S. operations to American and global investors meets national security requirements under a 2024 law.

The new U.S. entity is expected to be valued at around $14 billion, Vice President JD Vance said — far below analyst estimates of $30–40 billion. Enforcement of the law banning TikTok unless its Chinese parent ByteDance sells its U.S. assets has been delayed until January 20, 2026, to allow time for restructuring, securing investors, and obtaining Beijing’s approval.

Trump said the deal ensures TikTok continues operating while protecting Americans’ data. The platform’s powerful recommendation algorithm will be retrained and overseen by U.S. security partners, with operations controlled by the new joint venture. Trump claimed Chinese President Xi Jinping gave his personal approval for the plan.

Among those expected to join the investor group are Michael Dell, Rupert Murdoch, Oracle, Silver Lake, and possibly Abu Dhabi-based MGX, according to officials and media reports. Oracle and Silver Lake are reportedly set to take a combined 50% stake in TikTok U.S., while existing ByteDance investors would hold around 30%. ByteDance itself is expected to retain less than 20%, in line with U.S. law.

TikTok, with 170 million American users, has been credited by Trump as instrumental in his reelection campaign. The White House also recently launched an official account on the platform.

Still, major questions remain, particularly over control of TikTok’s algorithm, which analysts say could significantly affect the app’s long-term value. ByteDance has internally valued itself at more than $330 billion, underscoring the gap between market estimates and the U.S. government’s $14 billion valuation.

Republican lawmakers have urged greater transparency on the deal to guarantee a “clean break” from Chinese influence.