Former President Donald Trump ignited a firestorm Sunday after claiming media moguls Rupert Murdoch and his son Lachlan are “probably” joining the high-stakes takeover of TikTok’s U.S. operations. Speaking on Fox News, Trump suggested the Murdochs would be part of an investor group that includes Oracle’s Larry Ellison and Dell Technologies CEO Michael Dell.
The revelation comes as Fox Corp, led by Lachlan Murdoch, is reportedly in talks to back the forced spinoff of TikTok from its Chinese parent, ByteDance. Under the White House’s terms, Americans would control six of seven board seats, and the app’s powerful algorithm would be U.S.-run, according to Bloomberg.
Vivien Lin, Chief Product Officer at @BingXOfficial, explains that this transition is driven by regulatory clarity, growing institutional participation, and the adoption of blockchain infrastructure by financial institutions.https://t.co/9g5IW9X1VA
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed that a deal framework has been finalized, with only signatures pending. Meanwhile, Trump said China’s President Xi Jinping approved the arrangement, a striking twist after months of U.S.-China tension over the app.
If completed, the deal would leave ByteDance with less than 20% ownership, effectively stripping Chinese control over the platform. TikTok, which briefly went dark in the U.S. earlier this year, credited both Trump and Xi for ensuring the app’s survival in America.
The United States is once again on the edge of a political and technological storm. Former President Donald Trump has revealed that media barons Rupert Murdoch and his son Lachlan are “probably” set to be involved in the controversial TikTok takeover deal. The revelation came during a Fox News interview, where Trump casually name-dropped the Murdochs as potential investors in the social media platform’s U.S. spin-off.
On the surface, the news might seem like another chapter in the saga of TikTok’s survival in America. But beneath the headlines lurks something darker: the very same media dynasty that already controls what millions of Americans see on television could soon control one of the world’s most influential social platforms.
The Billionaire Boys’ Club
Trump didn’t stop with the Murdochs. He also mentioned Oracle’s Larry Ellison and Dell Technologies CEO Michael Dell as likely players in the deal. Behind closed doors, sources confirm that other financial giants, including private equity firm Silver Lake Management and venture capital powerhouse Andreessen Horowitz, are circling the deal like vultures.
According to Bloomberg, Oracle is poised to control TikTok’s security and algorithm — essentially deciding what content Americans are allowed to see. Meanwhile, ByteDance, TikTok’s Chinese parent company, would be reduced to a minority stake of less than 20%.
Vivien Lin, Chief Product Officer at @BingXOfficial, explains that this transition is driven by regulatory clarity, growing institutional participation, and the adoption of blockchain infrastructure by financial institutions.https://t.co/9g5IW9X1VA
The spin being pushed is that this will guarantee TikTok’s “safety” and “independence” under U.S. leadership. But let’s be clear: this isn’t about national security. This is about billionaires carving up one of the most powerful communication platforms on Earth for their own profit and influence.
Americans Shut Out, Billionaires Take Over
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt went on Fox News to reassure the public that Americans will control six of seven board seats in the new TikTok U.S. structure. She boasted that the algorithm — TikTok’s secret sauce — will now be “U.S.-controlled.”
But ask yourself: which Americans? Everyday users? Or the billionaire investors handpicked by Trump’s inner circle?
If the Murdochs — who already dictate Fox News coverage — gain control, TikTok could easily morph into yet another weaponized platform, spreading narratives designed to divide and manipulate. Millions of users who flock to TikTok for entertainment could unknowingly be subjected to subtle propaganda pushed by the same family that has profited off polarization for decades.
Trump, Xi, and the Strange Dance of Approval
The timeline of the deal makes the situation even more unsettling. Just last year, a federal law was set to ban TikTok entirely. The app briefly went dark before Trump extended the deadline multiple times, giving ByteDance room to negotiate.
Now, Trump claims Chinese President Xi Jinping personally approved the deal. TikTok even issued a statement thanking both Xi and Trump “for their efforts to preserve TikTok in the United States.”
Think about that. A platform used by 170 million Americans is now being preserved not by democratic processes, not by consumer voices, but through backroom arrangements involving Trump, Xi, and billionaire investors.
The Illusion of “Saving” TikTok
Supporters of the deal argue that this is the only way to keep TikTok alive in the United States. But at what cost? ByteDance will lose control, and in its place, a handful of elites will decide the future of one of the world’s most powerful platforms.
It’s not about saving TikTok. It’s about controlling it. And once billionaires own it, ordinary Americans will have no say in how their data, their content, and even their voices are used.
The Murdoch Factor: More Dangerous Than China?
For years, TikTok critics have shouted about the dangers of Chinese ownership, warning of surveillance and propaganda. But is the prospect of Murdoch control any better?
The Murdoch empire has a long history of shaping political discourse for profit. Fox News, run by Lachlan Murdoch, is notorious for stoking division and anger to keep ratings high. If TikTok becomes another Murdoch property, it could be engineered to amplify outrage and misinformation at an even larger scale — not just on cable news, but directly on the smartphones of millions of young Americans.
A Future Controlled by Billionaires
The TikTok deal is not about freedom, security, or democracy. It’s about billionaires tightening their grip on information. From television to newspapers to social media, the Murdochs and their allies are quietly building an empire that decides what Americans see, hear, and believe.
And the scariest part? They’re doing it with the blessing of Trump, Xi, and the very politicians who claim to be protecting us.
Outrage Is the Only Response
If this deal is signed, TikTok will no longer be the quirky, creative outlet it once was. It will be a platform engineered by billionaires, for billionaires — with ordinary users left powerless.
The Murdoch family’s looming role in this takeover is a warning sign: our information, our culture, and even our democracy are being sold off piece by piece. Americans should be outraged, because once control is lost, we may never get it back.
