Sun Sep 21 20:03:59 UTC 2025: **FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE**

**Trump Allies, Lachlan Murdoch Eye Takeover of TikTok’s US Operations**

**Washington, D.C.** – A group of U.S. investors, including media mogul Lachlan Murdoch and prominent Trump allies like Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison, are reportedly pursuing a deal to acquire TikTok’s operations in the United States.

President Donald Trump announced the potential deal, stating it would transfer ownership of the popular social media platform’s American assets from Chinese parent company ByteDance to U.S. hands. Trump described those involved as “American patriots” who will do a “really good job” and adding that TikTok had helped him expand support among young voters during the 2024 election campaign.

The proposed takeover comes amid ongoing concerns from both Democrats and Republicans regarding potential national security risks posed by TikTok’s Chinese ownership, with fears that the Chinese government could access user data. Current U.S. law, enacted under the Biden administration, mandates that ByteDance divest its TikTok operations.

Lachlan Murdoch, CEO of Fox Corp, recently solidified his control over his family’s media empire, which includes Fox News and the Wall Street Journal. While the Murdoch family has historically supported right-leaning causes, their relationship with Trump has been complex, evidenced by Trump’s current defamation lawsuit against Rupert Murdoch and the Wall Street Journal.

The acquisition would grant Trump’s allies significant influence over a platform boasting approximately 170 million U.S. users, a key player in shaping political and cultural discourse. Other business figures mentioned in connection with the deal include Dell Technologies CEO Michael Dell.

The situation is further complicated by allegations that TikTok’s algorithm promotes anti-Israel content, a claim made by some pro-Israeli politicians and former Trump officials like Marco Rubio, who have previously advocated for a ban on the app.

This development marks a significant shift from Trump’s previous stance on TikTok, as he initially sought to ban the app during his first term in office. He has since pledged to “save” the platform, tying its fate to broader trade negotiations with China.

China has consistently denied allegations that it pressures apps like TikTok to collect user data for the government.

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