and China Reach Framework Agreement

The development comes shortly after U.S. and Chinese negotiators reached a preliminary framework in Madrid regarding the sale of TikTok’s U.S. assets. While the fine print of the agreement remains under wraps, a formal announcement is expected on September 19, following discussions between U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping.

Reports suggest that under the emerging framework, American investors will control 80% of TikTok’s U.S. operations, with ByteDance retaining a 20% minority stake. This balance is being designed to give Washington assurances that the app’s American business is firmly under domestic control while still allowing ByteDance to keep a financial foothold in the venture.

Who Are the Potential Buyers?

According to CNN, three major American players are at the forefront of the deal:

• Oracle, the software giant with long-standing ties to TikTok’s U.S. data hosting.
• Andreessen Horowitz, one of Silicon Valley’s most influential venture capital firms.
• Silver Lake, a major private equity firm with significant investments in technology.

These companies are expected to collaborate in forming a new American company that would oversee TikTok’s operations in the U.S. Notably, Oracle’s chairman Larry Ellison is reportedly personally involved in the discussions. President Trump has previously expressed support for Ellison’s role in any acquisition, dating back to his first term.

A History of Failed Deals and Renewed Pressure

The TikTok ownership saga is not new. In 2020, Oracle had already struck a deal to purchase TikTok’s U.S. assets under Trump’s first presidency, but the agreement was blocked before it could be finalized. The issue resurfaced in April 2024 when then-President Joe Biden signed a law requiring ByteDance to sell TikTok within nine months or face a nationwide ban.

Since returning to office, Trump has extended the deadline multiple times but has also maintained pressure, warning Beijing that the app would be banned unless a sale is finalized. On September 15, U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bassett confirmed that the two nations had reached a framework giving the U.S. effective control over TikTok’s American branch. He emphasized that the agreement balances commercial terms with national security concerns.

National Security at the Core

The U.S. government continues to view TikTok as a potential national security threat due to fears that ByteDance could be forced to share data with the Chinese government. Critics argue that Beijing could exploit the app’s massive popularity — with over 150 million American users — for surveillance or influence campaigns.

To address these concerns, any eventual deal will ensure that TikTok’s U.S. data and operations are handled entirely within American jurisdiction. Oracle already plays a role in this process by hosting TikTok’s American data centers.

What Comes Next?

For now, uncertainty remains. Sources say that negotiations over the framework are still ongoing, and changes may emerge during the Trump–Xi call on September 19. Even if the general structure has been agreed upon, final commercial terms and investor details will only be made public in the coming days or weeks.

In the meantime, Trump has signed an executive order delaying a nationwide ban on TikTok for three months, preventing the app from being shut down on September 17. This reprieve gives both sides more time to finalize a sale.

A Long-Running Dispute

The TikTok ownership dispute stretches back to Trump’s first term in 2020, when he threatened to ban the app unless ByteDance sold its U.S. operations. At the time, companies like Microsoft, Oracle, and Walmart showed interest in acquiring it, but no deal materialized. Five years later, the debate remains unresolved, though this time the pressure is stronger and the stakes are higher.

Conclusion

The coming weeks will determine whether TikTok’s U.S. operations will successfully transition into American ownership, with Oracle, Andreessen Horowitz, and Silver Lake poised to take control. If the deal goes through, it could mark the end of years of uncertainty over TikTok’s fate in the United States. But until an official announcement is made, speculation and political maneuvering will continue to dominate the conversation around one of the world’s most influential social media platforms.