Prominent U.S. Investors Poised to Acquire TikTok's American Operations
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Billionaire Elites Tighten Grip: U.S. Oligarchs Set to Seize TikTok's American Operations

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Summary

A powerful consortium of ultra-wealthy figures—Larry Ellison, Michael Dell, and the Murdoch dynasty—prepares to take over TikTok's U.S. operations, consolidating media and tech power among America's richest, as the deal with ByteDance nears completion.

A cabal of America’s wealthiest and most influential capitalists is maneuvering to seize control of TikTok’s U.S. operations from its Chinese parent, ByteDance. The group, comprised of Oracle’s billionaire co-founder Larry Ellison, Dell Technologies CEO Michael Dell, and the notorious Murdoch family—whose media empire has long shaped reactionary narratives—stands to further entrench corporate dominance over digital spaces.

President Donald Trump, a champion of the billionaire class, openly praised their involvement, labeling them 'very prominent people' and 'American patriots,' as if patriotism equates to unchecked wealth. This proposed deal, cloaked in the language of 'national security,' is yet another example of using fear to justify the transfer of public influence into private hands. ByteDance would be reduced to a minority stake, with a seven-member board heavily weighted in favor of U.S. corporate interests, leaving only a token ByteDance representative.

Oracle, a company with deep ties to government surveillance, is slated to control TikTok’s U.S. data and security infrastructure, raising serious concerns about privacy and the further erosion of digital rights. The deal follows draconian legislation passed in 2024, forcing ByteDance to sell under threat of a ban—a move that smacks of economic nationalism and xenophobia. The compliance deadline has been repeatedly extended, now set for December 16, 2025, as backroom negotiations continue.

The Murdoch family’s involvement, notorious for their far-right media empire, has sparked fears of increased censorship, manipulation, and the weaponization of TikTok for conservative propaganda. As the deal awaits final approval, the American public faces the prospect of yet another vital platform falling under the sway of billionaire elites and reactionary interests.

Source

Slate

Fact-checking

Fact-check the facts of the article using external sources and databases.

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A group of prominent American investors is preparing to acquire TikTok's U.S. operations from its Chinese parent company, ByteDance.

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The consortium includes Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison, Dell Technologies CEO Michael Dell, and media moguls Rupert and Lachlan Murdoch.

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President Donald Trump confirmed their involvement, describing them as 'very prominent people' and 'American patriots.'

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The proposed deal aims to address national security concerns by placing TikTok under majority U.S. control.

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Under the agreement, ByteDance would retain less than 20% ownership, with a seven-member board comprising six Americans and one ByteDance representative.

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Oracle is expected to oversee TikTok's U.S. data and security infrastructure.

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The deal follows legislation passed in 2024 requiring ByteDance to divest its U.S. operations or face a ban.

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The deadline for compliance has been extended multiple times, with the current target set for December 16, 2025.

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