From the Liveblog of
Friday, January 23, 2026
TikTok finalizes deal to create US entity, avoiding ban
- See more Times of Israel on Google - add us as a Preferred Source
TikTok has finalized a deal to create a new American entity, avoiding the looming threat of a ban in the United States that has been in discussion for years on the platform now used by more than 200 million Americans.
The social video platform company signs agreements with major investors, including Oracle, Silver Lake, and the Emirati investment firm MGX, to form the new TikTok US joint venture. The new version will operate under “defined safeguards that protect national security through comprehensive data protections, algorithm security, content moderation and software assurances for US users,” the company says in a statement. American TikTok users can continue using the same app.
US President Donald Trump praises the deal in a Truth Social post, thanking Chinese leader Xi Jinping specifically “for working with us and, ultimately, approving the Deal.” Trump adds that he hopes “that long into the future I will be remembered by those who use and love TikTok.”
The Chinese government has not yet publicly commented on TikTok’s announcement. Earlier yesterday and ahead of the statement, Liu Pengyu, spokesperson Chinese embassy in Washington, said “China’s position on TikTok has been consistent and clear.”
The Times of Israel Community.