The emergence of a new media empire in USA; who are the “Ellisons” and what do they do?

The controversy over TikTok, a Chinese-owned social media platform, highlights the overlap between national security concerns and efforts to maintain media dominance in the U.S. While Congress banned TikTok over alleged national security threats, reports indicate that Donald Trump has used the platform’s fate as a tool to advance his personal and political interests.

The U.S. has long relied on domestic platforms like Facebook and YouTube for soft power and public opinion management. However, the rise of TikTok, with millions of young users, is seen as a strategic threat to U.S. information dominance.

Trump’s approach to TikTok has been marked by delays in enforcing the ban and complex negotiations with U.S. tech companies like Oracle and Amazon. This led to high-level diplomatic talks between the U.S. and China, resulting in a preliminary agreement framework.

According to The New Yorker, the agreement involves creating a new company where ByteDance, TikTok’s parent company, would hold less than 20% of the shares, with the rest going to U.S. firms like Oracle, Silver Lake, and Andreessen Horowitz. The Chinese algorithm may also remain partially intact, with some modifications for U.S. user data.

Meanwhile, the Ellison family, close allies of Trump, is expanding its influence in the U.S. media landscape. Larry Ellison, CEO of Oracle and the world’s second-richest man, is set to acquire a stake in TikTok’s U.S. version. His son, David Ellison, recently merged his Hollywood production company, Skydance, with Paramount, gaining control of CBS and other media assets.

The Ellisons’ growing media empire, backed by Trump, could soon include a film studio, several TV networks, and a significant stake in TikTok, the world’s fastest-growing social media platform.