Leavitt Confirms U.S. to Control TikTok Board and Algorithm in New Deal
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt announced Saturday that a landmark agreement between the United States and China will give Americans dominant control over TikTok’s U.S. operations. Under the proposed deal, Americans will hold six of seven board seats, and the app’s algorithm will come under U.S. oversight.
U.S. Control Over Board Seats and Ownership
Leavitt told Fox News that the U.S. would secure six of the seven board seats overseeing TikTok’s United States operations, with the seventh seat designated by ByteDance, TikTok’s Chinese parent company. She said these terms intend to ensure that the app is “majority-owned by Americans in the United States.”
Additionally, the agreement requires all U.S. user data to be stored on cloud infrastructure managed by Oracle, the American software and cloud computing company. Leavitt emphasized that Oracle will lead the platform’s data and privacy protections.
Algorithm Control and National Security Fears
Leavitt said America will control TikTok’s recommendation algorithm—the core system that decides which content users see. She explained that the algorithm will be “secured, retrained, and operated in the United States outside of ByteDance’s control.”
This aspect responds to lawmakers’ persistent concerns that China could use the algorithm to influence content or amplify voices aligned with foreign interests. Critics have warned that without American oversight, the recommendation system could be manipulated for propaganda or misinformation.
Read more: WWE Wrestlepalooza 2025 Brings Action to ESPN Streaming
Reaction and Chinese Response
President Donald Trump said after his call with Chinese President Xi Jinping that he believes the deal is essentially agreed upon, although details remain under negotiation. As noted by Leavitt, “all of those details have already been agreed upon. Now we just need this deal to be signed.”
China has expressed mixed signals. While U.S. officials say negotiations have yielded the framework, Beijing has not publicly confirmed all terms. It remains unclear whether ByteDance will relinquish control over technology tied to the algorithm or fully comply with ownership changes.
Legislative Context and Timeline
Congress passed legislation in 2024 that would force TikTok to divest its U.S. operations or face a ban in the United States by January unless it came under U.S. ownership. The new agreement comes in response to that law, seeking to prevent a shutdown while addressing national security and privacy concerns.
Leavitt said the deal remains unsigned but expects formalization in the near future—“in the coming days.” The U.S. administration maintains confidence that it holds enough leverage to conclude the agreement and avoid a complete shutdown.
Follow us on Instagram, YouTube, Facebook,, X and TikTok for latest updates
