The long-running negotiations over the sale of TikTok’s U.S. operations appear to be approaching a conclusion. According to a report from CNBC (Sept 16), the deal will likely include not only new American investors but also some of ByteDance’s existing backers, allowing the Chinese parent company to keep a minority stake in the U.S. business.
This marks a shift from the original U.S. legislation, which demanded that ByteDance fully divest from TikTok’s American arm. If confirmed, the new arrangement would dilute Chinese control without requiring a complete exit.
U.S.–China Agreement and Timeline
Sources indicate that the change reflects ongoing negotiations between Washington and Beijing. U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent confirmed this week that both governments had reached a preliminary understanding regarding the app’s operations in the U.S.
An outcome is expected within the next 30 to 45 days, according to CNBC.
Oracle’s Role
One constant in this evolving story is Oracle’s involvement. The company will continue to manage TikTok’s U.S. cloud services, where American user data is currently hosted. Oracle’s infrastructure already supports the app’s IT needs, and the company remains among the names floated as a potential buyer for the U.S. business.
CEO Larry Ellison—who briefly surpassed Elon Musk last week to become the world’s richest man, with a fortune estimated at $360 billion—also enjoys political backing. Former President Donald Trump has previously voiced support for Oracle’s bid.
The TikTok saga has dragged on for more than 18 months. Back in April 2024, U.S. lawmakers passed legislation requiring ByteDance to divest completely from TikTok’s American operations.
The initial deadline of January 17, 2025, came and went, briefly pushing the app offline in the U.S. before Trump’s administration signed an extension. The deadline was pushed again in April 2025 as negotiations with China continued.
Now, with September’s developments, both sides appear closer than ever to a resolution—suggesting that TikTok’s fate in the U.S. may finally be decided in the coming weeks.
