Senator Elizabeth Warren Slams Trump for Allegedly Handing TikTok to Billionaire Buddies in Secret Deal

Senator Elizabeth Warren accused President Trump of pushing a shady arrangement that gives his wealthy allies sweeping power over TikTok’s American operations.

The Massachusetts Democrat highlighted the platform’s pending sale as part of a pattern favoring elite donors, following similar moves with media giants like Paramount and CBS.

Lawmakers have long debated TikTok’s future amid national security worries tied to its Chinese parent company ByteDance. Fears center on potential data misuse by Beijing, prompting repeated U.S. efforts to force a divestiture or outright ban.

Past attempts stalled in courts, but recent executive actions under Trump have accelerated talks for an American-led overhaul. This includes separating U.S. user data and algorithms from foreign oversight to ease regulatory hurdles.

The current agreement reportedly values the U.S. arm at around $14 billion, with ByteDance retaining under 20% ownership to meet compliance rules. New investors would handle daily decisions, aiming to keep the app running smoothly for its 170 million domestic users.

Critics argue such restructurings could still leave back channels for influence, especially with buyers linked to political figures. Supporters counter that it boosts domestic control without killing a key economic driver for creators and advertisers.

Warren’s claim of a backdoor deal lacks direct evidence of impropriety, though several investors boast ties to Trump circles, including Oracle’s Larry Ellison and media mogul Rupert Murdoch. Public records show the negotiations unfolded openly through regulatory channels since early 2025, with no confirmed irregularities per federal disclosures.

It is true that the trio of Oracle, Silver Lake, and MGX will hold 45% collectively, as outlined in internal memos, but ByteDance’s minority stake ensures continuity rather than full handover. Warren’s reference to foreign aid in the process nods to MGX’s Abu Dhabi roots, yet U.S. officials describe the group as vetted for security compliance.

Media reporting for this story: 37% Left | 23% Right | 31% Center | 9% Unrated

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