President Donald Trump revealed that prominent billionaires such as Rupert Murdoch and Michael Dell could play a role in a potential deal for the U.S. to take control of the popular social video platform TikTok. In an interview aired on Fox News, Trump mentioned the involvement of the Murdoch family and Dell, describing them as “American patriots” who love the country and would do a great job.
This development adds another layer of complexity to the ongoing negotiations surrounding TikTok’s future in the U.S. Trump also disclosed that Larry Ellison, the founder of Oracle, was part of the same group involved in the deal. Oracle’s responsibility would include managing the app’s data and security, with Americans controlling the majority of seats on the planned board.
The specifics of the deal remain unclear, with Chinese and U.S. officials having until December 16 to finalize the details. TikTok, currently owned by Chinese company ByteDance, has faced scrutiny over concerns about data security and Chinese influence on the platform’s content algorithms.
Despite previous legislation calling for a TikTok ban in January, Trump has extended deadlines multiple times to allow negotiations for the sale of TikTok’s U.S. operations. Trump himself admitted to being “prejudiced” towards TikTok, acknowledging its role in helping him connect with young voters.
Representatives for Ellison, Dell, and the Murdochs were not available for immediate comment. It’s worth noting that Trump had previously filed a lawsuit against Murdoch and The Wall Street Journal over a story linking him to Jeffrey Epstein.
Published on September 22, 2025 at 6:48 AM MDT.
