California Governor Gavin Newsom Launches Review Into Alleged TikTok Content Suppression After U.S. Ownership Deal

California Governor Gavin Newsom has accused TikTok of suppressing content critical of President Donald Trump, prompting a state-level review into the platform’s content moderation practices to determine whether they violate California law. The announcement, made Monday, adds a new political dimension to TikTok’s ongoing scrutiny in the United States following its recent restructuring deal aimed at avoiding a nationwide ban.

According to a statement from Newsom’s office shared on X, reports have emerged alleging that TikTok limited the reach of posts critical of President Trump after the platform was sold to a Trump-aligned business group. The governor’s office said it had independently confirmed instances of such suppression, though no specific examples were disclosed. As a result, Newsom has called on the California Department of Justice to review the matter and assess potential legal violations under state law.

The allegations come shortly after TikTok’s Chinese parent company, ByteDance, finalized a deal creating a new entity, TikTok USDS Joint Venture LLC. The agreement establishes a majority U.S.-owned structure designed to safeguard American user data and address long-standing national security and privacy concerns raised by U.S. officials under both the Trump and Biden administrations. Under the deal, American and global investors hold 80.1% of the joint venture, while ByteDance retains a 19.9% stake.

Three managing investors—Oracle, private equity firm Silver Lake, and Abu Dhabi-based investment company MGX—each own 15% of the venture. A White House official confirmed that both the U.S. and Chinese governments approved the arrangement, which President Trump publicly praised.

Trump, who has more than 16 million followers on TikTok, has credited the app with helping him secure victory in the 2024 presidential election, highlighting its influence among American voters. Newsom, a Democrat, and Trump, a Republican, have a long history of political rivalry, which further amplifies the significance of the governor’s claims.

Neither TikTok nor the White House immediately responded to requests for comment. As the California Department of Justice begins its review, the outcome could have major implications for TikTok’s operations, content moderation policies, and its relationship with U.S. regulators amid an already complex political and regulatory environment.