Trump Approves US-Led TikTok Deal Amid Security Concerns

President Donald Trump has signed an executive order approving a deal that allows TikTok to continue operating in the United States under a new ownership structure dominated by American investors, addressing national security concerns while preserving access to the popular app. The deal, agreed upon after discussions including a call between Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping, involves U.S. investors like Oracle and Silver Lake holding about 80% of TikTok's U.S. operations, with China's ByteDance retaining less than 20%, and U.S. oversight of security and data. This move averts a nationwide ban mandated by legislation passed earlier in 2024 that required ByteDance to divest its U.S. operations or face shutdown. The TikTok recommendation algorithm will be rebuilt on American soil using only U.S.-based data to prevent potential Chinese government influence, a central concern cited by U.S. officials and lawmakers. The agreement also extends a moratorium on the ban for 270 days while regulatory reviews proceed, reflecting a compromise between protecting American data privacy and maintaining the platform for millions of U.S. users and small businesses. The deal marks a rare moment of alignment between Washington and Beijing on a technology issue amid ongoing geopolitical tensions.