Former President Donald Trump said this weekend that several high-profile American billionaires — including Rupert Murdoch and Michael Dell — could be part of a deal to bring TikTok’s U.S. operations under American control.
In an interview recorded Friday and aired Sunday on Fox News, Trump named Murdoch, 94, and his son Lachlan Murdoch, executive chairman of Fox Corporation and CEO of News Corp, as likely participants. “I think they’re going to be in the group — a couple of others too. Really great people, very prominent people,” Trump said. “They’re American patriots. They love this country, and I think they’ll do a really good job.”
He also confirmed that Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison is involved, a detail previously disclosed. According to White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt, Oracle would be responsible for handling TikTok’s U.S. data and cybersecurity, with six of seven seats on a new governing board to be held by American citizens.
The announcement comes amid urgent negotiations to prevent a U.S. ban on the Chinese-owned app. Trump said he discussed the matter with Chinese President Xi Jinping during a lengthy call on Friday. Both countries face a December 16 deadline to finalize terms, following a recent extension granted by the Trump administration.
TikTok, owned by China-based ByteDance, has grown into one of the world’s most-used apps, especially among younger users. U.S. officials have long warned that its algorithm could be used by the Chinese government to influence public opinion and manipulate content unseen by users.
Although Congress has passed legislation mandating a TikTok ban beginning in January, Trump has issued multiple extensions allowing the app to operate while a sale of its U.S. assets is negotiated.
Trump also acknowledged his personal bias toward the platform, citing its effectiveness in reaching younger voters. He credited conservative activist Charlie Kirk for urging him to embrace TikTok.
Representatives for the Murdochs, Dell, and Ellison did not respond to requests for comment.
Notably, Trump is currently pursuing a lawsuit against Rupert Murdoch and The Wall Street Journal over a July article linking him to the late financier Jeffrey Epstein.
With input from agencies
Bd-Pratidin English/ Jisan
