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A pending deal over TikTok’s United States operations would establish a board dominated by Americans to resolve long-standing national security concerns, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said Saturday.
Leavitt told Fox News that the new board would have seven seats, six of which would be filled by American members, adding that Oracle, the California-based technology company led by billionaire Larry Ellison, is set to oversee data security and privacy functions.
"The data and privacy will be led by one of America’s greatest tech companies, Oracle, and the algorithm will also be controlled by America as well," Leavitt said.
U.S. President Donald Trump previously confirmed the framework during a press briefing, saying American investors would fully control the app’s domestic operations once the agreement is signed.
He noted that discussions with Chinese President Xi Jinping touched on TikTok’s future, adding that Xi had "approved" the plan during a phone call on Friday, though Chinese officials have not publicly confirmed such approval.
Trump described the incoming investors as "great American patriots" and said the final details would be announced once the deal was formalized.
He also hinted that the U.S. government could receive a multibillion-dollar fee from the investors, according to reporting by the Wall Street Journal.
Following the Trump–Xi call, ByteDance, the Beijing-based parent company of TikTok, issued separate statements on Chinese and American social media platforms.
On its WeChat account, the company said it would work toward an agreement "in line with Chinese laws" to keep TikTok operating in the United States.
However, on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, ByteDance stated more broadly that it would act "in line with applicable laws" to ensure TikTok remains accessible for American users.
The variation in wording highlighted Beijing’s emphasis on compliance with Chinese regulations, while the U.S.-facing statement avoided explicit reference to them.
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The negotiations are taking place under the authority of legislation passed in 2024, when Congress approved a law requiring ByteDance to divest TikTok’s U.S. operations or face a nationwide ban.
The measure, signed by then-President Joe Biden, was later upheld by the Supreme Court.
The law originally set a divestiture deadline of January 19, 2025. Since taking office, President Trump has extended the deadline four times.
U.S. and Chinese officials also reached a preliminary understanding during trade talks in Madrid earlier this week, agreeing to cooperate toward a resolution within that framework.
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