Trump Set to Sign Game-Changing TikTok Deal This Thursday: What It Means for You

President Trump is set to sign a significant deal regarding TikTok. This agreement will transfer ownership of the popular app from a Chinese firm, ByteDance, to American investors. Senior White House officials confirmed that after the sale, a new joint venture will take over TikTok’s U.S. operations, with ByteDance owning less than 20% of the new company.

The deal aligns with a bipartisan law passed in 2024, which aimed to ban TikTok unless it was sold to U.S. owners. Earlier, the app had faced a shutdown in the U.S. just before Trump’s second term began. However, it resumed operations after Trump decided not to enforce the penalties tied to the law, promising to negotiate a sale with China.

Experts have raised concerns for years about TikTok’s potential risks to national security, emphasizing that ByteDance might provide Chinese authorities access to user data. TikTok has over 170 million users in the United States, further escalating these fears.

During his first term, Trump signed an executive order aimed at banning TikTok, but Biden reversed it after taking office. As part of the new deal, American user data will be stored in the U.S. under the oversight of Oracle, a cloud computing company. Additionally, TikTok’s algorithm will be monitored to prevent external influences.

Recent studies show that nearly 60% of Americans have concerns over how their data is managed on apps like TikTok. User reactions on social media reflect mixed feelings, with many expressing relief about the sale but remaining cautious about ongoing data security.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt stated that the deal is nearing completion and will include a board where six seats are designated for American investors. Trump hinted that notable business figures, including Oracle’s co-founder Larry Ellison and Dell Technologies’ CEO Michael Dell, will play roles in overseeing the new TikTok venture.

This situation underscores the complex relationship between technology companies and national security, emphasizing the ongoing scrutiny of foreign ownership in American tech. For more insights on this evolving issue, you can refer to the latest reports from trusted sources like NBC News and the New York Times.

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