Former President Donald Trump has hinted that Rupert Murdoch and his son Lachlan are likely to join a group of investors aiming to take over TikTok’s American operations. The potential deal, announced in an interview with Fox News, seeks to prevent the popular Chinese video-sharing app from being banned in the US. Larry Ellison, co-founder of Oracle, and Michael Dell, CEO of Dell Technologies, are also expected to be part of the board. The idea of Murdoch’s involvement has raised eyebrows, with some suggesting it could create a powerful American media and tech conglomerate.
The framework deal between the US and China, which aims to keep TikTok operational in the US, was reached last week. The ban on TikTok, owned by Chinese firm ByteDance, was initially imposed on January 19, 2025, after the parent company missed a divestiture deadline. However, Trump has repeatedly postponed the ban, with the most recent deadline set for September 17. Under the expected arrangement, TikTok’s US assets would be majority-owned by domestic investors, with ByteDance reportedly retaining less than 20% of the venture.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stated that the deal would ensure that ‘TikTok will be majority-owned by Americans in the United States.’ A spokesperson for the White House did not clarify if Lachlan Murdoch would take a board seat. NBC News reported that he would not be directly involved, although Fox Corp. could play a role in the deal. Last month, Lachlan Murdoch formally took over control of Fox Corp. and News Corp., while Rupert Murdoch remains central to the family’s media empire.
The potential takeover has sparked discussions about how the deal would impact American media ownership and national security considerations. While Trump has positioned the Murdoch family as patriots, critics argue that the involvement of powerful corporate figures may complicate the regulatory oversight needed to ensure the app’s compliance with US security standards. The deal represents a significant shift in the ongoing geopolitical tensions surrounding data privacy and foreign influence in the digital space.