The President of the United States, Donald Trump, signed an executive order on Thursday that will allow TikTok to continue operating in the country under new conditions that, according to the White House, ensure national security.
The information was released by the AP agency, which specified that the plan involves separating the operations of the social network in the U.S. from its Chinese parent company ByteDance and transferring majority control to a consortium of American investors.
Trump stated that the agreement has the approval of Chinese President Xi Jinping, although the full details of the deal are still unknown.
According to the president, the measure aims to ensure that "all philosophy and all politics are treated justly" on the platform, which is widely used by teenagers and young adults in the country.
Vice President JD Vance stated that the new model will ensure that "American investors control the algorithm" that determines what content users consume.
Among the main partners are Oracle and Silver Lake Partners, who will control about 80% of the new company, while ByteDance will retain a minority stake of 20% or less.
The board of directors will be dominated by Americans, and the Chinese representative will be excluded from the security committees.
The agreement places figures with business and political ties to Trump at the center, such as Larry Ellison, co-founder of Oracle, and Rupert Murdoch, media mogul.
Michael Dell was also mentioned as part of the investment group.
This weight of close allies has raised questions about whether there will be political interference in the editorial management of the application.
Digital rights advocacy organizations, such as the Electronic Frontier Foundation, warned that the key issue is not whether the app will be "100% MAGA," as Trump joked, but how criticisms of the president and his allies will be managed on the platform.
The TikTok algorithm, at the heart of Washington's concerns, will be replicated and retrained with exclusively American data, according to the administration, to eliminate any risk of influence from Beijing.
Although no evidence of manipulation by China has been presented, lawmakers from both parties pushed for the separation of ByteDance on the grounds that the technology could be used for propaganda purposes.
Trump, who during his first term tried to ban the app unless it disconnected from China, has moderated his stance in recent years and has come to acknowledge that TikTok was crucial for connecting with the young vote during the 2024 campaign.
The executive order now reflects an attempt to balance political and security interests in a context of significant technological tension with Beijing.
Analysts point out that the measure could reshape the landscape of social media in the U.S.
"The risk is that subtle changes in the way the algorithm is fed could alter the user experience and ultimately erode the app's popularity," explained Jasmine Enberg, a specialist at eMarketer.
Meanwhile, experts in international policy believe that Beijing has conceded on this point because TikTok has ceased to be a "disruptive strategic asset" and has become a negotiable concession in the trade standoff with Washington.
According to Dimitar Gueorguiev, a professor at Syracuse University, China aims to prioritize other fields such as artificial intelligence, the semiconductor industry, and advanced manufacturing.
Although there are still details to be finalized, the new legal framework for TikTok represents a significant shift in the control of the most popular social network among young Americans and marks another chapter in the technological battle between Washington and Beijing.
The executive order signed by Donald Trump to allow TikTok to continue operating in the United States under local capital control marks the end of a prolonged and tense negotiation process.
The president had been handling this issue with caution, following a series of deadline extensions granted to the social network to find an acceptable solution in the eyes of Washington.
For weeks, Trump publicly hinted at the possibility of a resolution. He even , emphasizing that TikTok could remain in the country if it could separate from its Chinese parent company, ByteDance, and demonstrated a clear commitment to U.S. national security.
Shortly after, President approved an additional three-month extension, which fueled speculation about a negotiated exit.
Meanwhile, multiple business and diplomatic actors accelerated efforts to ensure that the future of the social network would not be left in the hands of Beijing.
In recent statements, Trump emphasized that the discussions included the involvement of senior Chinese officials and that, in the end, a consensus was reached that "benefits all parties."
Attention focused on algorithm control and data management, two key issues for U.S. authorities, who aimed to prevent any potential foreign influence over the content consumed by millions of young people in the U.S.
Frequently Asked Questions about Trump's Executive Order and TikTok in the U.S.
What does Trump's new executive order on TikTok entail?
The executive order signed by Trump allows TikTok to continue operating in the United States under new conditions, which include separating its operations in the U.S. from ByteDance, its Chinese parent company, and transferring majority control to a consortium of American investors. This agreement aims to ensure national security and the privacy of American users' data.
Who are the new controllers of TikTok in the U.S.?
According to the agreement, the majority control of TikTok in the U.S. will be managed by Oracle and Silver Lake Partners, who will control about 80% of the new company. ByteDance, the Chinese parent company, will retain a minority stake of 20% or less.
How does this agreement impact the data security of U.S. users?
The agreement ensures that the data of U.S. users will be protected as it will be under the control of an American company. Additionally, TikTok's algorithm will be replicated and retrained with exclusively U.S. data to eliminate any risk of influence from the Chinese government.
What role do Trump's allies play in the new TikTok deal?
The agreement places key figures with business and political ties to Trump in important positions, such as Larry Ellison, co-founder of Oracle, and Rupert Murdoch, media tycoon. This has raised concerns about potential political interference in the editorial management of the app.
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