Trump Readies Signature on Pivotal TikTok Global Deal

In a move that could redefine the future of one of the world's most popular social media platforms, President Donald Trump is anticipated to sign a crucial deal this Thursday concerning TikTok. This impending agreement, confirmed by a source familiar with the matter, aims to address the significant national security concerns raised by the US administration regarding the Chinese-owned video-sharing app.

The deal centers around the creation of a new entity, "TikTok Global," which would see American technology giant Oracle and retail titan Walmart taking substantial stakes.

This strategic partnership is a direct response to the White House's earlier threats to ban TikTok in the United States, citing fears that user data could be accessed by the Chinese government through its parent company, ByteDance.

Under the proposed terms, Oracle and Walmart would collectively acquire a 20 per cent stake in TikTok Global.

While this signifies a considerable American investment, ByteDance is expected to retain an 80 per cent ownership. This majority stake held by the Chinese firm has, however, ignited further scrutiny, with some US officials and lawmakers expressing continued reservations about the efficacy of the deal in fully mitigating security risks.

A cornerstone of the agreement is the commitment to transfer all US user data to Oracle's cloud infrastructure.

This move is designed to isolate American user information from ByteDance's control, theoretically enhancing data security and alleviating surveillance fears. Furthermore, TikTok Global is slated to establish an independent board, with the majority of its directors being American citizens, to oversee its operations in the US.

The pressure on ByteDance to divest or restructure its US operations has been intense for months, culminating in an executive order from President Trump in August that set a deadline for a deal or a ban.

With Thursday looming as the expected signing date, all eyes are on the White House to see if this complex negotiation truly offers a definitive resolution to the geopolitical tug-of-war over TikTok's immense influence and data.

While the agreement aims to prevent a complete shutdown of TikTok in the US – a move that would impact over 100 million American users – the long-term implications of ByteDance's continued majority ownership and the depth of the US government's oversight remain subjects of intense debate and future monitoring.