US President Donald Trump reportedly signed an executive order to split off TikTok from ByteDance, allowing US investors to hold a majority stake in the new entity.

The Guardian reported Trump recently reached an agreement with China president Xi Jinping to allow TikTok to continue operating in the US after it previously faced a ban due to national security concerns.  

Trump signed the executive order yesterday (25 September) afternoon.

CNBC reported Abu Dhabi-based investment company MGX, Oracle and private equity company Silver Lake reportedly each have a 15 per cent stake in TikTok US.

The news site said ByteDance, TikTok’s Chinese parent, will own 19.9 per cent with the remaining 35 per cent to be owned by ByteDance investors and new holders.

The Guardian reported additional investors include Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison, media mogul Rupert Murdoch and his son Lachlan and Michael Dell, the CEO of Dell computers.

The news site also noted the seven-member board of directors, six of them US citizens, will include cybersecurity and national security experts

The Financial Times (FT) reported Vice President JD Vance stated TikTok US will be valued at $14 billion.

Propaganda weapon
“This deal really does mean Americans can use TikTok but actually use it with more confidence than they had in the past because their data is secure and it won’t be used as a propaganda weapon like it has in the past,” Vance said as he stood next to Trump during the signing, according to ABC News.

ABC News also reported Trump did not confirm the full roster of new owners for TikTok US.

The status of TikTok in the US has been uncertain ever since Congress passed a law in 2024 mandating ByteDance sell TikTok to US entities. The US Supreme Court upheld the law requiring the sale or ban of TikTok on 17 January.

The Trump administration has repeatedly delayed its deadline for ByteDance to divest its US operations or face a nationwide ban. Since January, the deadline has been extended four times.

The presiident credits TikTok’s young users with helping him get elected to his second term last year after he opposed it in his first term.