President Donald Trump announced that several well-known American billionaires, including Rupert Murdoch, Michael Dell, and Larry Ellison, are likely to be part of a new US-led group taking control of TikTok's US operations.
The announcement marks a shift in the ongoing negotiations aimed at preventing a nationwide ban of the popular social media app.
During a Fox News interview aired Sunday, Trump said the group could include tech founder Michael Dell, Oracle's Larry Ellison, and media leaders Rupert and Lachlan Murdoch. "I think they're going to be in the group," Trump said.
"Really great people, very prominent people... American patriots."
The potential involvement of the Murdochs could mean that Fox Corp., not the individuals themselves, would be part of the buying group.
This move aligns with Fox Corp.'s push into digital media as traditional broadcasting faces challenges.
Michael Dell, founder and CEO of Dell Technologies, and Larry Ellison, founder of Oracle, are also expected to play key roles in the deal, AP News reported.
Oracle has already been managing TikTok's US data since 2020 and will now lead data protection and privacy under the new agreement, according to White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt.
Donald Trump says that Lachlan Murdoch, Larry Ellison and Michael Dell will be investors in a proposed deal to keep TikTok operating in the U.S. https://t.co/0TIIHUATDT
— The Japan Times (@japantimes) September 22, 2025
TikTok Faces US Ban Unless 80% Sold to American Investors by 2025
Leavitt also said the new TikTok board will include seven members, six of whom must be American citizens, as required by legislation passed by Congress in April 2024.
According to CNN, the law demands that about 80% of TikTok's U.S. operations be sold to American investors by early 2025, or the app will face a nationwide ban.
Originally, the investor group included Oracle, Silver Lake, and Andreessen Horowitz. But Trump's recent statements suggest the group is expanding to include major figures from both media and tech industries.
Trump also revealed he spoke with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday and called the conversation "very productive." The two leaders are working toward a final deal, with a deadline set for December 16, 2025.
TikTok is owned by ByteDance, a Chinese company, and has faced criticism in the U.S. over concerns that the app's powerful algorithm could be used by the Chinese government to influence what American users see.
Despite these concerns, Trump admitted on Sunday that he has a soft spot for the app. "I'm a little prejudiced," he said, crediting TikTok with helping him connect with young voters.
Originally published on vcpost.com
