Trump Signs Order Advancing $14B TikTok US Sale Amid Security Concerns

President Donald Trump signed an executive order advancing the sale of TikTok's U.S. operations to American and global investors for approximately $14 billion, a valuation significantly lower than earlier estimates of around $40 billion. The order delays the enforcement of a 2024 law banning TikTok in the U.S. until January 20, allowing time for the sale process, including securing investors and Chinese government approval. The deal requires ByteDance to reduce its stake to less than 20%, with U.S. partners like Oracle and Silver Lake positioned as potential buyers, and involves restructuring TikTok's operations so that its algorithm is retrained and overseen by U.S. security partners. While Trump stated that Chinese President Xi Jinping has approved the plan, Beijing has not publicly confirmed this, leaving some uncertainty around the geopolitical aspects. Analysts and investors expressed surprise and concern over the low valuation, which values TikTok's U.S. business at about 1.4 times sales, far below comparable platforms like Instagram and YouTube. The deal aims to protect national security while allowing TikTok to continue operating in the U.S., but key details about governance and the final sale remain unresolved.