VERMONT January 26, 2026 – Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders has sharply criticized the recent $14 billion deal that transferred control of TikTok’s U.S. operations to a group of American investors, accusing President Donald Trump of enabling “right-wing multibillionaire” Larry Ellison to dominate the platform’s algorithm and expand his media empire. In a post on X (formerly Twitter) that garnered over 45,000 likes and widespread attention, Sanders described the arrangement as a stark example of oligarchy in America.
“Thanks to Trump, right-wing multibillionaire Larry Ellison will now control the TikTok algorithm, along with: CBS, MTV, The Free Press, BET, CMT, Simon & Schuster, Nickelodeon, Paramount+, Pluto TV and more,” Sanders wrote. “This is what Oligarchy looks like.”
The deal, finalized on January 22, 2026, establishes a U.S.-based joint venture for TikTok to comply with a 2024 congressional law mandating the sale of the app’s American operations or face a nationwide ban. The legislation, signed by then-President Joe Biden, cited national security risks tied to TikTok’s Chinese parent company, ByteDance, including potential data access by the Chinese government and algorithmic manipulation.
Under the agreement, Oracle—co-founded by Ellison—holds a 15% stake in the new entity, alongside equal shares for private equity firm Silver Lake and Abu Dhabi-based AI company MGX. ByteDance retains a minority 20% stake, while the Dell Family Office, linked to tech mogul Michael Dell, is also an investor. The U.S. version of TikTok will operate independently, with its algorithm managed within Oracle’s U.S. cloud infrastructure to address security concerns.
President Trump, who delayed the ban’s enforcement multiple times to allow negotiations, hailed the deal as a victory on Truth Social, calling the investors “Great American Patriots” and crediting Chinese President Xi Jinping for approving it despite potential opposition. Vice President JD Vance emphasized that U.S. owners would control the algorithm, ensuring it is retrained using American user data.
Ellison, the 81-year-old Oracle chairman and a longtime Trump supporter known for frequent White House visits, has drawn particular scrutiny from critics like Sanders. The senator’s post highlights Ellison’s family ties to a broader media portfolio: His son, David Ellison, leads Skydance Media, which recently merged with Paramount Global in a deal giving the Ellison family significant influence over Paramount’s assets, including CBS, MTV, BET, Nickelodeon, and streaming services like Paramount+ and Pluto TV. This consolidation, Sanders argues, exemplifies concentrated power in the hands of a few wealthy individuals.
The acquisition has sparked mixed reactions. Supporters view it as a safeguard against foreign influence, with Trump framing it as a “qualified divestiture” that severs ByteDance’s operational control. However, detractors, including foreign policy experts, have labeled it a “giveaway” to Trump’s allies. Michael Sobolik, a senior fellow at the Hudson Institute, called the deal “the art of the steal,” suggesting it benefits China more than the U.S. Others, like Slate’s analysis, decry it as favoring Ellison personally.
Congressional China hawks have pledged to review the deal for compliance, but early indications suggest acceptance of the administration’s assurances. Meanwhile, TikTok’s new U.S. CEO, Adam Presser, will oversee operations, with a board featuring executives from Oracle and other partners.
Sanders’ comments have reignited debates over media consolidation and political influence in tech. As of this writing, the post has fueled discussions on X, with replies ranging from support for Sanders’ oligarchy warning to defenses of the deal as necessary for national security. The senator’s office did not immediately respond to requests for further comment.
This development comes amid ongoing tensions in U.S.-China relations, with TikTok’s fate symbolizing broader efforts to regulate foreign-owned tech platforms. Analysts predict the app’s U.S. operations will continue uninterrupted, but the long-term impact on content moderation and user privacy remains under watch.
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