U.S. President Donald Trump has disclosed that media mogul Rupert Murdoch and his eldest son, Lachlan, may be among the investors poised to take control of TikTok’s U.S. operations. The announcement comes as Washington seeks to transfer TikTok’s U.S. business from its Chinese parent, ByteDance, over national‑security concerns. The administration has been urging a change in ownership, prompting Trump to negotiate with Beijing for a sale to a consortium that includes Oracle founder Larry Ellison and entrepreneur Michael Dell. Trump described these investors as “patriots.”
In a recent Fox News interview, Trump added that Lachlan Murdoch—and possibly his father Rupert—could join the investor group. Rupert Murdoch’s media empire spans the United States, Britain and Australia, and Lachlan recently solidified his leadership after a settlement ended a long‑running legal dispute over control of the empire. As part of that deal, Lachlan officially took charge of Fox News and News Corp.
The White House has said that the board of the new company that would run TikTok’s U.S. operations will be dominated by American citizens, with a potential deal signing expected in the coming days. This move is the latest in a series of U.S. actions aimed at addressing security worries tied to TikTok’s ownership. The issue dates back to when Trump first announced plans to ban the app, citing data‑security risks linked to its Chinese ownership. He has repeatedly delayed the ban to allow time for a deal to be reached.
With high‑profile investors such as the Murdochs potentially entering the picture, the situation continues to evolve as the government balances national‑security interests with the concerns of investors and users of the popular platform. The outcome of the negotiations will have significant implications for TikTok’s future in the United States—and possibly worldwide—as the app navigates complex ownership structures and geopolitical tensions.
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