President Donald Trump just threw a lifeline to TikTok, ensuring the app dances on in American hands without the shadow of foreign control looming overhead.
Fox Business reported that on Thursday, Trump signed an executive order that paves the way for TikTok’s U.S. operations to break free from its China-based parent company, ByteDance, addressing long-standing national security concerns.
This move aligns with the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act (PAFACA), a law enacted last year under the previous administration, which bans social media platforms under the sway of adversarial foreign governments like China unless they divest.
PAFACA, which took effect on January 19, 2025, with a 90-day extension provision, survived a Supreme Court challenge, proving that even the highest court sees the danger of foreign influence over our digital spaces.
TikTok faced a potential ban under a 2024 law due to fears over data security and algorithmic manipulation by foreign powers, a concern that’s not just tech paranoia but a real threat to American sovereignty.
ByteDance initially dug in its heels, refusing to sell, but after Trump took office, a series of extensions—75 days, another 75, then 90, and one more this month—bought time for a deal that prioritizes American interests over globalist hand-wringing.
A powerhouse group led by software titan Oracle, alongside Silver Lake and the UAE’s MGX, will hold a hefty 45% stake in TikTok U.S., ensuring that control stays on home soil where it belongs.
ByteDance’s share shrinks to under 20%, with existing investors holding 35%, while the White House confirms the U.S. entity will govern TikTok’s algorithm—a critical win against foreign propaganda tools.
Vice President J.D. Vance nailed it, saying, “it’s a blue chip group of investors,” signaling that this isn’t some fly-by-night operation but a serious effort to safeguard our digital borders while keeping the app alive for users.
The deal pegs TikTok U.S. at a cool $14 billion, a figure Vance confirmed, adding that the priority is “protecting Americans’ data security” without killing off an app millions enjoy.
Let’s be real—while progressive tech utopians might cry about corporate takeovers, controlling the algorithm through American hands is a non-negotiable firewall against foreign meddling, as Vance rightly emphasized.
Trump himself tipped his hat to Chinese leadership, stating, “I have great respect for President Xi,” while noting their approval was key to a deal that benefits both nations without compromising our values.
With Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping set to finalize details on Friday, September 26, 2025, this agreement could mark a rare moment of pragmatic cooperation in a world too often bogged down by ideological nonsense.
Under CEO Shou Zi Chew, TikTok has fought tooth and nail against ban threats, and while some might see this as corporate stubbornness, it’s hard not to admire the grit—even if the app’s past ties raised valid red flags.
Ultimately, this executive order isn’t just about saving a trendy app; it’s a calculated step to protect American users and data from foreign influence, proving that common-sense policy can still cut through the noise of woke tech debates.