Trump Signs 2025 Executive Order to Transfer TikTok to U.S. Owners

In 2025, former President Donald Trump, now back in office, reignited one of the most contentious tech battles of the decade. With a single stroke of a pen, Trump signed a sweeping new Order to Transfer TikTok to U.S. Owners, mandating that the app’s American operations be separated from its Chinese parent company, ByteDance, and placed under U.S. ownership.

Once again framed as a matter of national security, the order has reignited debates about data privacy, free speech, and the escalating conflict between Washington and Beijing over control of the digital realm. This comprehensive account explores the origins of Trump’s 2025 TikTok order, the U.S. strategy for enforcing it, and its potential impact on millions of American users.

The Executive Order to Transfer TikTok to U.S. Owners

On September 25, 2025, Trump signed Executive Order 14117, which gave ByteDance 90 days to divest TikTok’s U.S. assets or face a nationwide ban.

The administration cited “credible threats” suggesting that TikTok’s extensive user data, encompassing over 150 million Americans, could be accessed by the Chinese Communist Party. The order contends that TikTok’s algorithmic prowess and influence on public opinion elevate it beyond a mere social media platform, potentially transforming it into a tool for foreign influence campaigns.

Quoting directly from the order:

“The continued operation of TikTok under foreign ownership presents unacceptable risks to the privacy of Americans and to the sovereignty of the United States.”

CFIUS Steps Back In

The Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS), the same government body that investigated ByteDance’s 2017 acquisition of Musical.ly, is once again at the center of the storm.

According to senior officials, CFIUS concluded that ByteDance’s ties to China still pose “an unavoidable national security risk,” despite earlier attempts to house U.S. TikTok data on American soil.

The New Bidding War: Tech Giants Circle

Just hours after the announcement, U.S. corporate giants began circling. Microsoft, Oracle, and Amazon are rumored to be exploring bids, with Microsoft eager to revive its failed 2020 attempt.

Oracle, which previously pitched itself as a “trusted technology partner,” is once again positioning its cloud infrastructure as the safest option for storing American TikTok data. Meanwhile, reports suggest Elon Musk’s X Holdings may also join the bidding, raising eyebrows across Silicon Valley.

As one tech analyst put it on X:

“This time, the question isn’t if TikTok will be forced into American hands — it’s who gets it, and at what price. The 2025 order has far more teeth than the first attempt.”

The Legal Showdown: Déjà Vu in the Courts

Just like in 2020, TikTok has already filed lawsuits against the U.S. government, arguing the executive order violates free speech and oversteps presidential authority.

But the administration appears better prepared this time. Legal experts note that the new order is crafted to withstand challenges under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), citing updated intelligence assessments and bipartisan congressional backing.

Federal judges have yet to issue injunctions, but court battles are expected to move quickly given the 90-day deadline

What It Means for TikTok Users

For the app’s 150 million U.S. users, the immediate experience remains unchanged — TikTok continues to operate as normal. However, uncertainty looms:

• If a U.S. company acquires TikTok: The app will stay online, with data stored in America under U.S. corporate oversight.
• If ByteDance resists divestiture: TikTok could face app store bans, blocking downloads and updates in the U.S.
• If legal challenges succeed: The executive order could be delayed or struck down, prolonging the standoff.

The Legacy: From 2020 to 2025

Trump’s latest move echoes his failed 2020 attempt, when a similar executive order triggered bidding wars but was ultimately blocked by federal courts and later rescinded by the Biden administration.

This time, however, the stakes are higher: TikTok has doubled its U.S. user base, and geopolitical tensions between the U.S. and China are far more severe.

Whether this executive order succeeds or collapses like the first, it represents a defining moment in the struggle over who controls the future of the internet.

Also read, Teen Attacks Elderly Worker at NBA YoungBoy Concert in Kansas City.

Key Takeaways

• The Order: Trump signed Executive Order 14117 in September 2025, giving ByteDance 90 days to divest TikTok’s U.S. operations.
• The Players: Microsoft, Oracle, Amazon, and possibly Elon Musk’s X Holdings are exploring bids.
• The Legal Battle: TikTok has sued the U.S. government, but experts say this order is harder to overturn than in 2020.
• The Stakes: With 150M American users, TikTok’s fate could reshape social media, digital privacy, and U.S.-China tech relations.

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