Dispatches
Washington, Sept. 25, 2025 — President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Thursday approving a plan to allow TikTok to continue operating in the United States under new ownership, resolving years of national security disputes surrounding the popular video-sharing platform.
The order, titled “Saving TikTok While Protecting National Security,” clears the way for a qualified divestiture of TikTok’s U.S. operations from its Chinese parent company, ByteDance Ltd. Under the framework, TikTok’s American business will be transferred to a newly created joint venture majority-owned and controlled by U.S. investors. ByteDance and its affiliates will retain less than 20 percent ownership.
“This divestiture will allow millions of Americans who enjoy TikTok every day to continue using it while also protecting national security,” Trump said.
The executive order follows a series of enforcement delays after Congress passed the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act in 2024. The law targeted TikTok and other apps with alleged ties to foreign adversaries, citing risks over data security and influence.
Trump had previously issued four separate executive orders postponing enforcement of the law, which was scheduled to take effect in January 2025. The latest order formally recognizes the new ownership structure as a “qualified divestiture” under the Act.
The decision was made after an interagency review led by Vice President J.D. Vance, involving the National Security Council, the Treasury Department, the Department of Justice, the Commerce Department, and intelligence agencies. Officials concluded that the new structure addresses concerns that TikTok could be influenced by the Chinese government through ByteDance.
According to the order, the new joint venture must:
- Operate independently in the United States with an American board of directors.
- Take full control of TikTok’s algorithms, code, and content moderation.
- Store sensitive U.S. user data exclusively with an American cloud provider.
- Undergo intensive monitoring of software updates, algorithms, and data flows by trusted U.S. security partners.
The Justice Department has been directed not to enforce penalties under the Act for 120 days while the divestiture is completed. In addition, Attorney General Merrick Garland will issue assurances to providers that no violations will be pursued for past conduct dating back to the law’s effective date.
The order also amends and partially revokes earlier presidential directives dating back to 2020, when the Trump administration first sought to force ByteDance to divest TikTok after its acquisition of Musical.ly.
Officials emphasized that the move not only protects American data but also ensures the survival of a platform used by more than 170 million Americans, including small businesses and creators who rely on TikTok for income.
Trump reserved the right to issue further orders if necessary, underscoring the administration’s view that national security risks remain paramount.
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