Trump Floats Murdochs, Dell, and Ellison in Potential TikTok Deal

Former President Donald Trump suggested that several high-profile billionaires — including Rupert Murdoch, his son Lachlan, and Dell Technologies founder Michael Dell — could be part of a consortium aiming to secure U.S. control of TikTok.

In a Fox News interview recorded Friday and broadcast Sunday, Trump mentioned the Murdochs by name, calling them “great people” and “American patriots” who, along with others, might take part in the potential deal.

He also confirmed that Oracle’s co-founder Larry Ellison is involved — a role already hinted at earlier. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt stated over the weekend that Oracle would handle TikTok’s U.S. data and security, with Americans controlling six out of seven seats on a new board.

The arrangement, however, is far from finalized. Trump said he discussed TikTok directly with Chinese President Xi Jinping in a lengthy phone call, and both governments now have until December 16 to settle the details under an extended deadline.

TikTok, owned by Beijing-based ByteDance, has been under scrutiny in Washington over concerns that its recommendation algorithm could be exploited by Chinese authorities. While Congress previously passed legislation to ban the platform starting January, Trump has repeatedly issued extensions, giving time to work out a deal for U.S. ownership.

Trump admitted he holds a “soft spot” for TikTok, crediting the app with helping him connect with younger voters, and noting that late conservative activist Charlie Kirk encouraged him to use the platform.

Representatives for Ellison, Dell, and the Murdochs did not respond to requests for comment. Notably, Trump is currently suing Rupert Murdoch and The Wall Street Journal over a story linking him to disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein.