In a recent interview, President Donald Trump highlighted the involvement of notable figures in a deal aimed at securing U.S. control over TikTok, a social media platform that has faced scrutiny over data privacy concerns. Speaking to Fox News’ “The Sunday Briefing,” Trump identified media mogul Rupert Murdoch and his son Lachlan Murdoch as key players in the negotiations, alongside other prominent business leaders like Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison and Dell Technologies CEO Michael Dell.
When prompted about the deal’s details, Trump stated, “They’re very well-known people,” referring to those involved in the TikTok agreement. “I hate to tell you this, but a man named Lachlan is involved. Do you know who Lachlan is? That’s a very unusual name, Lachlan Murdoch,” he elaborated.
These comments came shortly after White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt provided insights into the proposed transaction. She explained that the deal would result in TikTok being predominantly owned by Americans, with a board controlling the app in the U.S. consisting of seven members, six of whom would be American citizens.
Though there was speculation about Lachlan Murdoch’s potential role on the board, a spokesperson for the White House did not clarify whether he would serve in this capacity. However, a source familiar with the situation indicated that Lachlan would not engage in the deal in a personal capacity; instead, Fox Corp., under his leadership, would play a significant role.
The Murdoch family, known for a vast media empire that includes conservative outlets such as Fox News and The Wall Street Journal, has been a focal point in discussions surrounding media and politics. Lachlan recently assumed control of Fox Corp. and News Corp., after a protracted succession battle with his siblings.
Adding complexity to the narrative, Trump remains at odds with The Wall Street Journal due to a lawsuit he filed against Fox Corp. and Rupert Murdoch over an article that suggested he had corresponded with the late financier Jeffrey Epstein, which has fueled tensions between Trump and the News Corp. leadership.
Trump reiterated his belief that Rupert Murdoch would participate in the TikTok deal, saying, “Rupert is probably going to be in the group.” Additionally, he noted Ellison’s previously acknowledged involvement, as his company Oracle is set to manage TikTok’s data privacy aspects.
Trump’s mention of Dell as a new player in the TikTok landscape surfaced as another intriguing detail. However, there has been no official comment from Dell Technologies regarding this development.
While the specifics of the deal continue to unfold, Trump assured that other distinguished individuals would join the effort: “And they’re also American patriots, you know, they love this country, so I think they’re going to do a really good job,” he said.
The backdrop of this deal includes a recently announced framework between U.S. and Chinese officials, indicating progress toward transferring ownership of TikTok, a platform that boasts over 170 million users in the United States. The initiative comes as U.S. officials have repeatedly expressed concerns about the implications of TikTok’s ties to its Chinese parent company, ByteDance, particularly regarding the potential sharing of user data and algorithmic influence.
This ongoing situation showcases how critical the management of global tech platforms has become in the current political climate, as both economic and national security considerations intertwine in the realm of social media ownership and influence.
