“I have determined that the proposed divestiture would allow the millions of Americans who enjoy TikTok every day to continue using it while also protecting national security,” Trump wrote in an executive order issued on Thursday.
“We have very good controls … it’s going to be as secure as you can be,” he added.
Trump also reiterated that Chinese President Xi Jinping had given him the “go-ahead” on the deal in their call last week.
Speaking at the Oval Office alongside Trump, Vice-President J.D. Vance said the new version of TikTok will be valued at around US$14 billion.
“Ultimately, the investors are going to make the determination about what they want to invest in and what they think is proper value,” he said, adding that details about “who exactly is involved in the deal” will be announced “in the days to come”.
For years, Washington lawmakers have warned that TikTok’s ownership makes it beholden to the Chinese government and that Beijing could use the app to spy on Americans or conduct influence operations.
