00:00Trump Gives TikTok a Lifeline with $14 Billion US Buyout Deal
00:05In a 2025 plot twist, Donald J. Trump moves to save TikTok with a deal-driven executive order and a 120-day pause.
00:14The headline magnet-turned-president signed an order, greenlighting a $14 billion spinoff of TikTok's US operations to American investors.
00:23Vice President J.D. Vance, who broke the number, called it a win for national security and America's scrolling thumbs.
00:30Here's the backstory.
00:32A national security law signed by Joe Biden once forced TikTok to either sell its US business or face a nationwide ban.
00:39Trump's order effectively puts that law on ice for 120 days while the divestiture plan moves forward.
00:46Think of it as a government-sponsored pause button for your For You page.
00:50TikTok's Chinese parent company, ByteDance, hasn't officially blessed the deal but says it'll work in accordance with applicable laws to keep the app running stateside.
01:00Trump, meanwhile, claims he got the thumbs-up directly from Chinese President Xi Jinping.
01:05I told him what we were doing, Trump told reporters, and he said go ahead with it.
01:09Apparently, even geopolitical rivals can agree that dance challenges must go on.
01:13Under the deal, TikTok US will get a new board of directors, while its closely guarded recommendation, algorithm, source code, and moderation tools will be handed to American owners.
01:24Oracle will run security and provide the cloud muscle to keep the app humming.
01:28Trump assured reporters, it's owned by Americans and very sophisticated Americans.
01:33While Trump didn't name every investor, CNBC reports Oracle, Silver Lake, and Abu Dhabi-based MGX will scoop up a combined 45% stake.
01:45Vance promises the new setup will keep American data safe and free from propaganda weapons.
01:50And when asked if the algorithm will suddenly favor MAGA content, Trump said every viewpoint will be treated fairly.
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