In a recent interview, President Donald Trump suggested that media mogul Rupert Murdoch and his son, Lachlan Murdoch, may play significant roles in a potential deal to secure TikTok's operations in the United States. Speaking on Fox News, Trump mentioned that Lachlan Murdoch is expected to be involved, along with other prominent figures such as Oracle's Larry Ellison and Dell Technologies' Michael Dell. Trump expressed confidence that these individuals, whom he described as "American patriots," would effectively manage the situation.
The context for these discussions involves TikTok's ownership by the Chinese company ByteDance. U.S. national security concerns have led lawmakers to pass legislation requiring ByteDance to divest its American operations to continue operating in the country. The White House has indicated that plans are underway to ensure that six out of seven members of TikTok's board would be American, addressing key points of contention in ongoing negotiations.
Despite Trump's optimistic statements, a source has indicated that Lachlan Murdoch may not be directly involved in the deal but that Fox Corporation could still play a role. Trump recently spoke with Chinese leader Xi Jinping about the matter, stating that progress is being made, although China's official stance suggests that more work remains to align both parties' positions.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt has also noted that the U.S. would retain control of TikTok's algorithm, a critical aspect of the negotiations. As discussions evolve, both sides appear to have differing views on the path forward, with China emphasizing the need for a fair business environment for its companies operating in the U.S.