House China Panel Chair Seeks Urgent White House Briefing on TikTok US Ownership Deal

Rep. John Moolenaar, chair of the House Select Committee on China, has requested an urgent briefing from the White House following President Trump's executive order endorsing a proposed deal to transition TikTok's ownership from its Chinese parent company, ByteDance, to a U.S.-based entity. Moolenaar praised the deal as a significant step but emphasized that the law requires not only divestment but also strict prohibitions on any cooperation between ByteDance and the new TikTok entity, especially concerning the recommendation algorithm and operational ties. The deal, still not fully disclosed, involves licensing ByteDance's algorithm to the new U.S. venture, which includes partners like Oracle, tasked with auditing and monitoring the algorithm for security. This congressional oversight marks the first formal effort to scrutinize ongoing negotiations after talks in Spain between U.S. and Chinese officials. Vice President JD Vance has assured that the deal will maintain TikTok's operation while protecting Americans' data privacy, but Moolenaar seeks more detailed information to ensure compliance with legal requirements. The situation continues to unfold amid bipartisan congressional concerns about Chinese influence and data security risks.