Trump Reveals Murdochs, Oracle, and Dell in Possible TikTok Deal/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ President Donald Trump suggested Rupert Murdoch, Lachlan Murdoch, and Michael Dell could join Oracle’s Larry Ellison in a U.S.-led TikTok deal. The plan would give Americans majority control over the social media app’s board and security. Talks with China continue ahead of a December deadline as concerns over TikTok’s algorithm grow.
Trump’s TikTok Deal + Quick Look
- Trump says Murdochs and Michael Dell may join TikTok deal.
- Larry Ellison of Oracle already confirmed as participant.
- U.S. plan calls for six of seven board seats held by Americans.
- White House says Oracle would oversee TikTok data and security.
- Trump spoke with China’s Xi Jinping about the deal on Friday.
- Deadline: Dec. 16 for U.S.-China agreement on TikTok ownership.
- Congress passed a ban, but Trump extended TikTok operations.
- U.S. officials warn TikTok’s algorithm could be manipulated by Beijing.
- Trump admits “prejudice” for TikTok due to its use in his campaigns.
- Legal tensions remain — Trump is suing Rupert Murdoch’s Wall Street Journal.
Deep Look: Trump Names Murdochs and Dell as Potential Players in TikTok Deal
President Donald Trump revealed that several prominent American billionaires — including Rupert Murdoch, Lachlan Murdoch, and Michael Dell — could take part in a pending U.S. takeover of the social media platform TikTok. His comments came during a Fox News interview aired Sunday, as negotiations between Washington and Beijing intensify ahead of a December deadline.
Trump Floats Murdochs and Dell for TikTok Stake
Trump, who has made the fate of TikTok a central issue in his technology and foreign policy agenda, said he believed the Murdochs and Dell would join Oracle founder Larry Ellison in a consortium to manage the app’s U.S. operations.
“I think they’re going to be in the group,” Trump said. “A couple of others. Really great people, very prominent people. And they’re also American patriots, you know, they love this country. I think they’re going to do a really good job.”
The suggestion signals that the White House is exploring ways to involve trusted conservative-aligned media and technology figures in TikTok’s governance structure.
Oracle’s Role Confirmed, U.S. Majority Planned
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed that Oracle would oversee TikTok’s data and security, addressing long-standing national security concerns about Chinese access to user information. According to Leavitt, Americans would hold six of seven board seats in the restructured company, ensuring U.S. control.
Ellison’s involvement was already known, but Trump’s disclosure of the Murdochs and Dell broadened the potential scope of the deal.
Deadline Approaches in U.S.-China Talks
The latest deadline for reaching a TikTok agreement is December 16, 2025, following a series of extensions by the Trump administration. Trump said he discussed the deal in a lengthy phone call with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday.
TikTok’s parent company, ByteDance, remains under pressure to divest its U.S. operations amid rising bipartisan concerns that China could manipulate TikTok’s algorithm to push political messaging to American users.
Congressional Pressure and National Security Fears
Congress has already passed legislation mandating a TikTok ban starting January 2026 unless a U.S.-approved deal is completed. Lawmakers argue that Beijing’s influence over TikTok’s content algorithm presents a unique risk that traditional regulatory oversight cannot fully address.
Trump, however, has repeatedly extended deadlines to keep TikTok available in the U.S. while negotiations continue. He acknowledges a personal interest in the platform, saying Sunday that he is “a little prejudiced” toward TikTok because it helped him reach younger voters during the 2024 campaign.
Trump credited the late conservative activist Charlie Kirk with encouraging him to embrace the app as a political tool.
Political and Legal Complications
Despite his praise for Rupert Murdoch’s potential involvement, Trump has an uneasy relationship with the media mogul. In July, he filed a lawsuit against Murdoch and The Wall Street Journal, accusing the newspaper of defaming him in a report on his ties to financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
The litigation underscores the complexity of any deal involving Murdoch-linked enterprises, particularly given their central role in U.S. conservative media.
Unanswered Questions About Structure and Oversight
While Trump’s remarks highlight possible players, much about the TikTok deal remains unclear. The financial structure of the arrangement, the exact ownership stakes, and how ByteDance would be compensated are still being negotiated.
Analysts warn that even if American billionaires and companies take the lead, ensuring genuine independence from Beijing’s influence will be challenging.
“It’s not just about board seats or data storage,” one policy expert noted. “It’s about whether the algorithm itself can be monitored and secured.”
Next Steps for TikTok’s Future
The coming weeks will be critical. If the U.S. and China fail to finalize a deal by December 16, TikTok could once again face the prospect of being banned nationwide. But Trump’s repeated willingness to extend deadlines suggests he views the app as too politically valuable to shut down, especially with a U.S.-led ownership solution in sight.
For now, the prospect of Murdoch media influence, Dell’s tech expertise, and Ellison’s Oracle infrastructure joining forces represents the latest twist in the ongoing battle over one of the world’s most influential social media platforms.
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