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U.S. President Donald Trump and Attorney General Pam Bondi were sued Thursday over <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.verity.news/story/2025/trump-approves-tiktok-deal-us-investors-get-majority-control">the government's approval last September of a deal by TikTok's Chinese owner ByteDance</a> to establish a majority American-owned joint venture. The lawsuit, which does not seek a ban on TikTok, calls for a renegotiation “that doesn't put administration allies in a position to censor political content.”

U.S. President Donald Trump and Attorney General Pam Bondi were sued Thursday over the government's approval last September of a deal by TikTok's Chinese owner ByteDance to establish a majority American-owned joint venture. The lawsuit, which does not seek a ban on TikTok, calls for a renegotiation “that doesn't put administration allies in a position to censor political content.”

The lawsuit was filed in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia by the Public Integrity Project on behalf of two retail U.S. investors in other social media firms. The plaintiffs are Zhaocheng Anthony Tan, a shareholder in Alphabet Inc., and Garrett Reid, a shareholder in Meta Platforms Inc.

The lawsuit was filed in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia by the Public Integrity Project on behalf of two retail U.S. investors in other social media firms. The plaintiffs are Zhaocheng Anthony Tan, a shareholder in Alphabet Inc., and Garrett Reid, a shareholder in Meta Platforms Inc.

Congress passed legislation in April 2024 requiring ByteDance to sell its U.S. assets by January 2025 or face a ban or fines. <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.verity.news/story/2025/trump-extends-tiktok-deadline-for-third-time-amid-trade-tensions">Trump issued a series of executive orders extending the deadline for enforcement</a>, and the Justice Department (DOJ) informed companies they would not face liability for continuing to host TikTok.

Congress passed legislation in April 2024 requiring ByteDance to sell its U.S. assets by January 2025 or face a ban or fines. Trump issued a series of executive orders extending the deadline for enforcement, and the Justice Department (DOJ) informed companies they would not face liability for continuing to host TikTok.

The lawsuit alleges that under the announced deal, ByteDance retains control over "all the essential elements of TikTok" and "could continue to push Chinese propaganda and censor the content it does not like." ByteDance continues to own the app's recommendation algorithm, which it licenses to the new American TikTok entity.

The lawsuit alleges that under the announced deal, ByteDance retains control over "all the essential elements of TikTok" and "could continue to push Chinese propaganda and censor the content it does not like." ByteDance continues to own the app's recommendation algorithm, which it licenses to the new American TikTok entity.

TikTok USDS Joint Venture LLC was finalized in January and is 80% owned by non-Chinese investors. The new entity includes Oracle, MGX and Silver Lake as managing investors, each taking a 15% stake, while ByteDance maintains a 19.9% stake.

TikTok USDS Joint Venture LLC was finalized in January and is 80% owned by non-Chinese investors. The new entity includes Oracle, MGX and Silver Lake as managing investors, each taking a 15% stake, while ByteDance maintains a 19.9% stake.

The lawsuit claims the deal benefited firms with close ties to Trump, including Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison, who previously hosted a $100,000-per-person fundraiser for Trump. The White House and DOJ did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the lawsuit.

The lawsuit claims the deal benefited firms with close ties to Trump, including Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison, who previously hosted a $100,000-per-person fundraiser for Trump. The White House and DOJ did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the lawsuit.

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U.S. President Donald Trump and Attorney General Pam Bondi were sued Thursday over <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.verity.news/story/2025/trump-approves-tiktok-deal-us-investors-get-majority-control">the government's approval last September of a deal by TikTok's Chinese owner ByteDance</a> to establish a majority American-owned joint venture. The lawsuit does not seek to force a ban on TikTok.

U.S. President Donald Trump and Attorney General Pam Bondi were sued Thursday over the government's approval last September of a deal by TikTok's Chinese owner ByteDance to establish a majority American-owned joint venture. The lawsuit does not seek to force a ban on TikTok.

Congress passed legislation in April 2024 requiring ByteDance to sell its U.S. assets by January 2025 or face a ban or fines. Trump issued a series of executive orders extending the deadline for enforcement, and the Justice Department informed companies they would not face liability for continuing to host TikTok.

Congress passed legislation in April 2024 requiring ByteDance to sell its U.S. assets by January 2025 or face a ban or fines. Trump issued a series of executive orders extending the deadline for enforcement, and the Justice Department informed companies they would not face liability for continuing to host TikTok.

The lawsuit alleges that under the announced deal, ByteDance would still control "all the essential elements of TikTok" and "could continue to push Chinese propaganda and censor the content it does not like." ByteDance continues to own the app's recommendation algorithm, which it licenses to the new American TikTok entity.

The lawsuit alleges that under the announced deal, ByteDance would still control "all the essential elements of TikTok" and "could continue to push Chinese propaganda and censor the content it does not like." ByteDance continues to own the app's recommendation algorithm, which it licenses to the new American TikTok entity.

The lawsuit claims the deal benefited firms with close ties to Trump, including Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison, who previously hosted a $100,000-per-person fundraiser for Trump. Susquehanna's founder Jeff Yass donated $16 million to Trump's Super PAC, MAGA, Inc.

The lawsuit claims the deal benefited firms with close ties to Trump, including Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison, who previously hosted a $100,000-per-person fundraiser for Trump. Susquehanna's founder Jeff Yass donated $16 million to Trump's Super PAC, MAGA, Inc.

The lawsuit claims the deal benefited firms with close ties to Trump, including Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison, who previously hosted a $100,000-per-person fundraiser for Trump. It seeks a renegotiation “that doesn't put administration allies in a position to censor political content.”

The lawsuit claims the deal benefited firms with close ties to Trump, including Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison, who previously hosted a $100,000-per-person fundraiser for Trump. It seeks a renegotiation “that doesn't put administration allies in a position to censor political content.”

The TikTok deal represents daylight robbery and blatant crony capitalism. Trump approved an illegal sale that violates the law's clear prohibition on operational relationships with ByteDance, allowing the Chinese company to retain control of the algorithm, e-commerce operations and board representation while his political allies bought the company at a fraction of its value after personally enriching him with billions in cryptocurrency investments and campaign donations.

The TikTok deal represents daylight robbery and blatant crony capitalism. Trump approved an illegal sale that violates the law's clear prohibition on operational relationships with ByteDance, allowing the Chinese company to retain control of the algorithm, e-commerce operations and board representation while his political allies bought the company at a fraction of its value after personally enriching him with billions in cryptocurrency investments and campaign donations.

Brendan Ballou

The TikTok divestiture framework protects national security while preserving free speech for 170 million Americans. The qualified divestiture removes foreign adversary control by ensuring U.S. ownership exceeds 80%, stores sensitive data domestically with trusted security partners monitoring all operations, and prevents China from exploiting the platform to collect Americans' personal information for intelligence operations and blackmail.

The TikTok divestiture framework protects national security while preserving free speech for 170 million Americans. The qualified divestiture removes foreign adversary control by ensuring U.S. ownership exceeds 80%, stores sensitive data domestically with trusted security partners monitoring all operations, and prevents China from exploiting the platform to collect Americans' personal information for intelligence operations and blackmail.

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The TikTok deal is a clear case of crony capitalism. Trump approved an illegal sale that violates the 2024 law’s ban on operational ties with ByteDance, allowing the Chinese company to retain control of the algorithm, e-commerce operations and board seats. Meanwhile, his allies bought the company at a fraction of its value, personally enriching him with billions in cryptocurrency and campaign donations. The deal must be renegotiated to remove foreign influence and prevent allies from controlling or censoring U.S. TikTok content.

The TikTok deal is a clear case of crony capitalism. Trump approved an illegal sale that violates the 2024 law’s ban on operational ties with ByteDance, allowing the Chinese company to retain control of the algorithm, e-commerce operations and board seats. Meanwhile, his allies bought the company at a fraction of its value, personally enriching him with billions in cryptocurrency and campaign donations. The deal must be renegotiated to remove foreign influence and prevent allies from controlling or censoring U.S. TikTok content.

The TikTok divestiture framework fully complies with the 2024 Act while protecting national security and free speech for 170 million Americans. The qualified divestiture removes foreign adversary control by ensuring U.S. ownership exceeds 80%, stores sensitive data domestically with trusted security partners monitoring all operations, and prevents China from exploiting the platform to collect Americans' personal information for intelligence operations and blackmail. The current deal is a win-win for security and accessibility.

The TikTok divestiture framework fully complies with the 2024 Act while protecting national security and free speech for 170 million Americans. The qualified divestiture removes foreign adversary control by ensuring U.S. ownership exceeds 80%, stores sensitive data domestically with trusted security partners monitoring all operations, and prevents China from exploiting the platform to collect Americans' personal information for intelligence operations and blackmail. The current deal is a win-win for security and accessibility.

Trump, Bondi Sued Over TikTok Deal Approval

Trump, Bondi Sued Over TikTok Deal Approval

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