US President Donald Trump has revealed that media mogul Rupert Murdoch and his eldest son, Lachlan, may be among the investors to take control of TikTok’s US operations. The development comes as the United States seeks to transfer TikTok’s US operations from its Chinese parent company, ByteDance, due to national security concerns.
The US has been pushing for the change in ownership, prompting Trump to negotiate with Beijing for a sale to a consortium of investors, including tech giant Oracle’s boss Larry Ellison and entrepreneur Michael Dell. Trump has described these investors as “patriots.” In a recent interview with Fox News, he added that Lachlan Murdoch and possibly his father, Rupert, could be part of the group.
Rupert Murdoch’s media empire spans the US, Britain, and Australia, and his eldest son, Lachlan, recently solidified his leadership position after a settlement was reached in a long-running legal dispute over control of the empire. Lachlan officially took control of Fox News and News Corp as part of the deal.
The White House has stated that the board of the new company controlling TikTok’s US operations would be dominated by American citizens, with a potential deal signing in the coming days. This development is the latest in a series of moves by the US to address national security concerns related to TikTok’s ownership.
The situation has been ongoing since Trump first announced plans to ban TikTok in the US, citing concerns over data security and the app’s Chinese ownership. However, he has repeatedly delayed the implementation of the ban to allow time for a deal to be reached. With the potential involvement of high-profile investors like the Murdochs, the situation continues to evolve, with the US government seeking to balance national security interests with the interests of investors and users of the popular social media platform.
The outcome of the negotiations will have significant implications for the future of TikTok in the US and potentially globally, as the platform continues to navigate the complexities of its ownership structure and the geopolitical tensions surrounding it. As the situation unfolds, it remains to be seen how the involvement of the Murdochs and other investors will shape the future of TikTok’s US operations.
