President Donald Trump signed an order advancing the sale of TikTok’s USA operations to American investors.
According to Bloomberg, Vice President JD Vance said Thursday, Sept. 25, 2025, that TikTok’s USA business has been valued at about $14 billion.
Bloomberg reports that this valuation is below earlier estimates of around $40 billion. The order requires ByteDance Ltd., TikTok’s China-based parent company, to reduce its stake to less than 20% to comply with national security requirements, and investors have 120 days to complete the transaction.
Per Bloomberg, Vance said the final purchase price will be determined by investors.
TikTok’s USA Market
TikTok maintains a significant presence in the U.S, with more than 170 million active users and over $10 billion in annual revenue.
At the $14 billion valuation, TikTok’s U.S. operations carry a price-to-sales ratio of roughly 1.4 times, Bloomberg reports, comparable to companies such as Exxon Mobil and General Mills Inc. By comparison, Meta Platforms Inc. trade at about 10 times sales, while Alphabet Inc.’s YouTube trades at eight times.
As AFROTECH™ previously reported, USA lawmakers passed the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act in 2024. The law requires ByteDance to sell TikTok’s USA operations or face a nationwide ban, citing national security concerns over foreign ownership of widely used USA digital platforms.
Political And Global Developments
Bloomberg reports that the proposed transaction would establish a joint venture, leaving ByteDance with a minority stake. Trump stated that Chinese President Xi Jinping is aware of the plan, although the country’s government has not publicly confirmed its approval.
AFROTECH™ previously reported in March 2025 that TikTok has not publicly committed to a sale, despite interest from multiple U.S.-based companies. At the time, the platform remained silent on whether it intends to move forward with any potential transaction.
Adding to the discussion about TikTok’s future, Bloomberg reports that Alvin Foo, a venture partner at Zero2Launch, said questions remain regarding how the platform would be managed if the sale proceeds. Foo noted that none of the proposed buyers are internet or consumer-facing companies, leaving operational details unresolved.
