Oracle Emerges as Key Player in TikTok's U.S. Deal

The clock is ticking for TikTok in the U.S., but it looks like a deal to keep the app running stateside might be just around the corner. According to Vice President J.D. Vance, the popular social media platform is expected to secure its future before the looming April 4th deadline.


To rewind a bit—back in January, the Senate passed the "Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act," which essentially mandated that TikTok be sold to a U.S.-owned entity to resolve national security concerns. Without a deal in place, the app would have faced a complete ban in the country. However, in one of his first moves as President, Donald Trump extended the deadline by 75 days, giving TikTok and its parent company, ByteDance, until April 4th to figure things out.

Now, with the deadline fast approaching, Vance is expressing confidence that a resolution is within reach. Speaking with NBC News aboard Air Force Two, he stated that an agreement will "almost certainly" be reached—one that satisfies national security concerns while allowing for a distinct American TikTok entity.

That optimism, however, clashes with conflicting reports on the progress of the deal. ByteDance has remained tight-lipped about potential buyers, and there's been little public information about ongoing negotiations. Trump, on the other hand, claims that there are four solid offers on the table for TikTok's U.S. operations. One name that keeps resurfacing? Oracle.

Oracle's involvement makes sense for several reasons. First, CEO Larry Ellison is a known Trump ally. Second, Oracle was previously in talks to acquire TikTok's U.S. assets back in 2020, when Trump attempted to ban the app as part of his broader feud with China. And third, Oracle already has an existing relationship with ByteDance through Project Texas, a data security initiative aimed at keeping American user data separate from Chinese operations.

If Oracle does end up taking over TikTok's U.S. operations, it's still unclear how the partnership will work or whether China will approve the arrangement. Beijing has historically been resistant to selling off TikTok's algorithm, which is essentially the secret sauce behind the app's massive success.

For now, TikTok users in the U.S. can breathe a little easier—at least for the next few weeks. The government insists that things are moving forward, but until an official agreement is in place, the app's long-term future remains uncertain.

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