US President Donald Trump signed an executive order on September 25, 2025, part of the Trump TikTok executive action plan, stating that his plan to sell TikTok’s US operations to American and global investors complies with a 2024 law.
The law mandates a ban unless the Chinese owner, ByteDance, divests. The order delays enforcement until December 16. This gives time for the deal to finalise.
Vice President JD Vance announced that the new US company will be valued at approximately $14 billion. “This keeps TikTok operating while protecting Americans’ data privacy as required by law,” Vance said. He noted initial Chinese resistance but also progress in negotiations regarding the Trump administration’s executive decisions on TikTok.
President Trump signs executive order on TikTok. pic.twitter.com/XHWT3ldXoD
— CSPAN (@cspan) September 25, 2025Congress passed the 2024 law requiring ByteDance to sell TikTok’s US assets. Otherwise, they face a ban by January 2025. The law cites national security concerns over Chinese data access. Trump’s leadership has faced numerous challenges, including the TikTok executive order, and he has extended deadlines multiple times, crediting the app with aiding his 2024 re-election efforts. He has 15 million followers and launched a White House TikTok account last month.
“This is going to be American-operated all the way,” Trump said during the signing. The order aligns with efforts related to TikTok’s US operations and the executive order facilitating its separation from the global platform. It secures approval from both American investors and the Chinese government.
Read: US-China TikTok Deal: ByteDance Keeps Board Seat, Data in US Clouds
The $14 billion deal prevents a ban that would affect 170 million US users. It balances security with business continuity, potentially setting precedents for tech divestitures. Vance emphasised that data privacy protections are a fundamental part of the Trump TikTok executive decision.
