Trump Says Murdochs, Dell could Be Involved in tiktok Deal
WASHINGTON (November 22, 2023) - Former President Donald Trump revealed Sunday that media mogul Rupert Murdoch and technology giant Dell are potential candidates to take a stake in TikTok, the popular social media app facing ongoing scrutiny over it’s ties to China. Trump indicated the deal would prioritize American control, with Americans holding six of seven seats on a planned board overseeing the platform.
The potential involvement of Murdoch’s media empire and Dell marks a meaningful development in the Trump administration’s efforts to address national security concerns surrounding TikTok, owned by Chinese company ByteDance. U.S.officials have expressed fears that the app’s algorithm could be manipulated by the Chinese government to influence users and gather data. This latest development comes as a December 16 deadline approaches for the U.S. and China to finalize details of a potential agreement.
Trump discussed the TikTok deal with Chinese President Xi Jinping in a phone call Friday. Despite Congress passing legislation calling for a TikTok ban set to take effect in January, Trump has repeatedly issued orders allowing the app to continue operating in the U.S. while pursuing a sale of its U.S. operations.
Trump also mentioned that conservative activist Charlie Kirk encouraged him to use TikTok, crediting the app with helping him connect with younger voters. He admitted to being “a little prejudiced” toward the platform because of this.
Representatives for Murdoch, dell, and Ellison have not yet responded to requests for comment. Trump filed a lawsuit against Murdoch and The Wall Street Journal in July following a story detailing his ties to Jeffrey Epstein.