Lachlan Murdoch, Michael Dell, Ellison involved in TikTok deal, Trump says
President Trump announced that business leaders Lachlan Murdoch, Larry Ellison, and Michael Dell will be involved as U.S. investors in a deal to keep TikTok operating in the U.S. This follows progress in negotiations requiring TikTok’s American assets to be transferred from China’s ByteDance. Trump praised the group as prominent figures and American patriots, highlighting TikTok's role in building support among young voters for the 2024 election. The administration has not enforced a law requiring TikTok’s divestiture due to concerns over user data security.
WASHINGTON, Sept 21 (Reuters) - President Donald Trump said on Sunday that business leaders Lachlan Murdoch, Larry Ellison and Michael Dell would be involved as U.S. investors in a proposed deal to keep TikTok operating in the United States. Trump has said the U.S. and China have made progress on a deal requiring TikTok’s American assets to be transferred to U.S. owners from China’s ByteDance. Murdoch, the CEO of Fox Corp, recently cemented long-term control of his family’s media empire that includes Fox News and the Wall Street Journal after settling a years-long legal battle with his siblings. The family patriarch, 94-year-old Rupert Murdoch, may also be involved in the deal, Trump said. Ellison, the co-founder of Oracle and a major Republican donor, has long been linked to a potential TikTok deal. Dell is the CEO of Dell Technologies.
Trump praised the group in an interview with Fox News’ “The Sunday Briefing” program, calling them prominent people and “American patriots.” “I think they’re going to do a really good job,” Trump said, crediting TikTok with helping build his support among young voters in the 2024 presidential election.
The Trump administration has declined to enforce a U.S. law enacted during the Biden administration requiring TikTok’s divestiture over fears that its U.S. user data could be accessed by the Chinese government. Trump has included negotiations over the popular social media app, which counts 170 million U.S. users, as part of wide-ranging economic talks with China.
