Trump Mulls 50% Ownership Of TikTok By U.S

United States President-elect Donald Trump has announced his intention to ensure that TikTok, the Chinese-owned short-form video app, is at least 50% owned by American investors. The declaration came during a rally in Washington on Sunday, just ahead of his inauguration as president.

Trump emphasized the critical role of government approval for TikTok’s value in the U.S., stating that the app’s future hinges on this approval. He also suggested that a joint venture with U.S. partners could help to resolve ongoing concerns regarding the app’s Chinese ownership.

He said, “But let the United States of America own 50% of TikTok. TikTok is worth nothing, zero without an approval. If you do approve, they’re worth like a trillion dollars, they’re worth some crazy number. I’m approving on behalf of the United States, so they’ll have a partner, the United States, and they’ll have a lot of bidders. The United States will do what we call a joint venture.”

The announcement comes amid ongoing tensions between the U.S. and ByteDance, TikTok’s Chinese parent company, over concerns that user data could be accessed by the Chinese government. The issue has been a point of contention during Trump’s administration, which has sought to impose stricter control over Chinese technology companies operating in the U.S.

TikTok Blocked in the U.S.

Earlier on Sunday, TikTok experienced a 12-hour outage for U.S.-based users, a move believed to be related to the new U.S. law that mandates ByteDance either sell TikTok to an American company or face a ban in the U.S. The blockage sparked widespread concerns, and TikTok confirmed the service interruption in a statement.

The company assured its users, stating: “In agreement with our service providers, TikTok is in the process of restoring service. We thank President Trump for providing the necessary clarity and assurance to our service providers that they will face no penalties providing TikTok to over 170 million Americans and allowing over 7 million small businesses to thrive.”

TikTok also emphasized that the efforts to resolve the situation were aligned with protecting free speech and preventing arbitrary censorship, adding that they would work with Trump on a long-term solution to keep TikTok operational in the U.S.

Trump’s Executive Order

On Truth Social, Trump outlined his plans to take further action. He stated that on Monday, the day of his inauguration, he would issue an Executive Order to extend the timeline before the prohibitions set by the new law take effect. This move aims to give both the U.S. government and TikTok more time to negotiate a deal that could potentially preserve the app’s operations in the country.

Trump also made it clear that his order would ensure that no companies would face penalties for helping keep TikTok operational until the matter is fully resolved. He emphasized TikTok’s significance, especially in the context of broadcasting his inauguration, suggesting that its continued presence in the U.S. is not only a matter of national security but also one of practical importance for his presidency.

Trump’s comments highlight the ongoing geopolitical tensions over Chinese technology companies, the future of digital privacy, and the global influence of U.S. tech giants. With the U.S. playing an increasingly central role in regulating international tech platforms, how this issue plays out could set a precedent for future dealings between governments and tech companies worldwide.