• Trump indicates Rupert Murdoch, Lachlan Murdoch, and Michael Dell may finance TikTok's acquisition.
• The deal will transfer TikTok's US assets from Chinese parent ByteDance to American ownership.
• US investor control aimed at addressing national security concerns over data access.
• Trump views TikTok as beneficial for connecting with young voters ahead of the 2024 election.
• Negotiations expected to finalize by December 16, 2023.

During a recent Fox News interview, President Donald Trump revealed that prominent billionaires, including media mogul Rupert Murdoch and tech entrepreneur Michael Dell, could play key roles in a potential deal to ensure TikTok continues operating in the United States. Trump stated, "I think they're going to do a really good job," referring to the Murdochs and Dell as "American patriots," and indicating their participation might help navigate corporate complexities surrounding the social media platform. Additionally, Lachlan Murdoch, CEO of Fox Corp, and Oracle's Larry Ellison were also mentioned as likely contributors to this consortium of investors, according to HuffPost, South China Morning Post, Channel News Asia, and BBC.

The proposed deal, heavily backed by Trump, aims to transition TikTok's assets from its Chinese parent company ByteDance to a group of American investors, addressing national security concerns surrounding data access and manipulation risks associated with the platform. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed that under this arrangement, Oracle would oversee data and security measures, with Americans poised to control six of the seven board seats planned for the newly structured TikTok US operations. The timeline for negotiations extends until December 16, 2023, as both U.S. and Chinese officials work to finalize terms, according to HuffPost, South China Morning Post, and Channel News Asia.

Trump's commentary underscores his belief in TikTok's influence, claiming it has significantly aided his outreach, particularly to younger voters ahead of the 2024 presidential election. He emphasized the need for a deal to secure U.S. interests over TikTok's operations, which boasts around 170 million American users. Reports indicate that Trump's administration seeks to prevent the Chinese government from accessing user data, as Congress enforced legislation requiring ByteDance to divest its U.S. operations by January 2025, albeit this is currently on hold, according to HuffPost, South China Morning Post, Channel News Asia, and BBC.

As discussions progress, the involvement of Murdoch's media empire, along with its conservative leanings, highlights the shifting dynamics in the tech and media landscape. Notably, Trump has initiated a lawsuit against The Wall Street Journal, which is part of Murdoch's News Corp, over a report concerning his ties to the financier Jeffrey Epstein, illustrating the complicated relationship amidst ongoing negotiations regarding TikTok. Trump's initiatives regarding TikTok are part of broader economic dialogues with China, which he claims are aimed at benefiting U.S. interests, according to HuffPost, South China Morning Post, Channel News Asia, and BBC.