WASHINGTON, D.C. Sept 25, 2025 – President Donald Trump has signed an executive order declaring that a deal to divest TikTok’s U.S. operations from its Chinese owner, ByteDance, meets the requirements set forth in a 2024 law. This move aims to protect national security while allowing the popular social media platform to continue operating in the United States.
The deal, led by Oracle and private equity firm Silver Lake, will see a joint venture take control of TikTok’s algorithm and security operations, with ByteDance’s stake reduced to less than 20%. This decision follows a series of delays in enforcing a ban on TikTok, initially mandated after the Supreme Court upheld a 2024 law requiring ByteDance to divest or face a ban.
Trump’s executive order includes a new 120-day enforcement pause, providing time for the agreement to be finalized amidst ongoing negotiations with China. President Xi Jinping’s approval was noted by Trump as a key factor in the deal, marking a rare breakthrough in the broader U.S.-China trade war.
Despite the agreement, some U.S. lawmakers remain concerned about potential ongoing influence from the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). The White House source emphasized that the deal ensures TikTok’s U.S. operations are no longer controlled by a foreign adversary, aligning with national security interests.
This development comes as part of efforts to manage escalating tensions between the world’s two largest economies, with implications for global trade and technology governance.