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The Trump administration is poised to collect approximately $10 billion in fees stemming from the recently finalized agreement that transferred operational control of TikTok's U.S. business to a majority American-owned entity, according to a Wall Street Journal report citing sources close to the matter.
ByteDance, TikTok's Beijing-based parent company, completed a landmark deal in January to establish a joint venture — TikTok USDS Joint Venture LLC — designed to address longstanding national security concerns raised by U.S. lawmakers. The new structure is intended to safeguard American user data, algorithms, and app infrastructure through enhanced cybersecurity and data privacy protocols. The platform currently serves more than 200 million users across the United States.
The financial arrangement grants administration-aligned investors majority control of TikTok's domestic operations. Key backers, including Oracle, Silver Lake, and Abu Dhabi-based investment firm MGX, have already contributed around $2.5 billion to the U.S. Treasury upon the deal's closing. The remaining balance will be paid in installments until the cumulative total reaches the $10 billion threshold, per the Journal's reporting.
Administration officials have defended the fee structure, arguing it reflects President Trump's pivotal role in preserving TikTok's access to the American market, steering complex negotiations with China, and addressing congressional concerns over data security. Vice President JD Vance previously estimated the new U.S. entity's valuation at roughly $14 billion.
The deal has not been without controversy. Earlier this month, retail investors in two competing social media platforms filed a lawsuit against Trump and Attorney General Pam Bondi, seeking to overturn the administration's approval of the ByteDance divestiture arrangement.
Neither TikTok nor the White House issued an immediate response to requests for comment regarding the reported fee structure or ongoing legal challenges.
