So, you’ve probably seen the headlines or heard the rumors swirling around: "Trump is buying TikTok," or "Trump is the new owner of TikTok." It's one of those things that sounds like it could be true, especially given how much he’s been talking about the app lately. But if you're looking for a simple yes or no, the reality is a bit more tangled than a viral dance trend.
Honestly, the short answer is no—Donald Trump does not personally own TikTok. He hasn't pulled out a checkbook and bought the company. However, the reason everyone is asking does Trump own TikTok right now is because his administration has basically become the architect of its new life in America. As of January 2026, we are sitting right on the edge of a massive corporate hand-off that has Trump’s fingerprints all over it, even if his name isn't on the deed.
The "Art of the Deal" for TikTok's Survival
To understand what’s actually happening, we have to look at the "Saving TikTok" executive order from late 2025. For a long time, TikTok was facing a total ban in the U.S. because of concerns over its Chinese parent company, ByteDance.
Instead of letting the app go dark, Trump brokered a deal that creates a new entity: TikTok USDS Joint Venture LLC. This isn't just a name change. It’s a total structural overhaul designed to satisfy the federal laws passed back in 2024.
Here is how the ownership is actually getting split up:
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- Oracle, Silver Lake, and MGX: These big-name American and global investors are taking a combined 45% stake. Oracle, led by Larry Ellison (a well-known Trump ally), is the heavy hitter here. They aren't just investors; they are providing the "cloud" where all the data lives.
- Existing ByteDance Investors: About 30% of the company is staying with the institutional investors who already owned a piece of ByteDance, like Susquehanna International Group and KKR.
- ByteDance (The Original Parent): They are keeping 19.9%. This is the "magic number" because the law says a foreign adversary can't own more than 20%.
So, while Trump isn't an owner, he’s the guy who decided who could be. He essentially acted as a high-stakes matchmaker.
The Billionaire in the Room: Jeff Yass
If you want to follow the money, you have to talk about Jeff Yass. He’s a Pennsylvania billionaire and a massive investor in ByteDance through his firm, Susquehanna.
There was a lot of chatter in 2025 because Yass donated a staggering $16 million to a Trump-aligned super PAC right around the time the administration started delaying the TikTok ban. Critics call it a "pay-to-play" situation; supporters call it smart business. Either way, Yass is a huge reason why the conversation shifted from "ban it" to "fix it."
It’s also worth noting that Yass’s firm was a major institutional shareholder in the company that merged with Truth Social. You’ve gotta admit, the web of connections between TikTok, the Trump administration, and these Republican megadonors is pretty dense.
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Why People Think He Owns It
The confusion mostly comes from how much control the President has over the situation. Under the law, the President has the "sole authority" to decide if a sale counts as a "qualified divestiture."
Basically, Trump gets to be the judge. If he says the deal is good, TikTok stays. If he says it’s bad, TikTok goes. When one person has that much power over a $14 billion deal, it’s easy for the public to think he’s the one running the show or profiting directly.
The New "Americanized" Algorithm
One of the weirdest parts of this 2026 transition is what’s happening to the actual app. The "For You" page we all know is powered by a super-secret algorithm owned by the Chinese. Under the new deal, the U.S. joint venture has to "retrain" a copy of that algorithm using only American data.
A lot of experts are skeptical. Can you really "retrain" the magic of TikTok? If the app starts feeling "off" or the videos aren't as addictive, users might jump ship to Reels or Shorts. The success of this "Trump-approved" version of TikTok depends entirely on whether American engineers can make the code work as well as the original.
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Is Truth Social Involved?
Another common question is whether TikTok is merging with Truth Social.
As of right now, there is zero evidence of a merger. They are completely separate companies. Truth Social is owned by Trump Media & Technology Group (TMTG), which is a public company where Trump is a majority shareholder. TikTok is a massive global platform. While they are both in the social media space, they aren't roommates.
The 2026 Outlook: What Happens Next?
The deal is scheduled to officially close on January 22, 2026. Until then, TikTok is operating under a series of reprieves and extensions.
If you’re a creator or a business owner, here is the reality: TikTok isn't going anywhere, but it is changing. The "national security" version of the app will have more U.S. oversight and a board of directors filled with American cybersecurity experts.
Actionable Insights for Users:
- Watch for "The Glitch": As the algorithm is retrained this month, don't be surprised if your "For You" page gets a little wonky. It's not a hack; it's a migration.
- Diversify Your Content: Even though the "ban" is likely avoided, the political climate is still volatile. If you're a creator, make sure you're building an audience on other platforms like YouTube or Instagram just in case.
- Check Your Privacy Settings: The whole point of this deal was "data security." Take a look at your account settings to see if the new U.S.-based management has rolled out new privacy controls.
The story of whether Trump "owns" TikTok is really a story about how politics and big tech have become inseparable. He might not own the shares, but he definitely owns the outcome.