US Explores Acquisition of TikTok as President Signs Order to Establish Sovereign Wealth Fund

“We will monetize the asset side of the U.S. balance sheet for the American people,” says Treasury Secretary.

In a significant move, U.S. President Donald Trump has signed an executive order to establish a sovereign wealth fund, which could potentially be used to acquire TikTok.

The order directs the U.S. Treasury and Commerce Departments to create the fund, with the goal of generating revenue from government-owned assets.

“We plan to establish this fund within the next 12 months. Our objective is to monetize the asset side of the U.S. balance sheet for the benefit of the American people,” Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced during a press briefing.

“The fund will include a mix of liquid assets and other national assets that we intend to leverage for the public good,” he added.

The concept of a government-backed investment vehicle was first proposed by Trump during his presidential campaign.

He suggested that such a fund could finance major national initiatives, including infrastructure projects like highways and airports, as well as advancements in manufacturing and medical research.

While specific details about the fund’s operations and funding mechanisms remain unclear, Trump has previously hinted that “tariffs and other strategic measures” could finance it.

Traditionally, a nation’s budget surplus funds sovereign wealth funds, but the U.S. currently operates at a deficit, which raises questions about the feasibility of the plan.

Globally, there are more than 90 sovereign wealth funds managing over $8 trillion in assets, according to the International Forum of Sovereign Wealth Funds.

TikTok, which boasts approximately 170 million users in the U.S., faced a temporary shutdown earlier this year.

Following his inauguration on January 20, Trump signed an executive order to delay the enforcement of the law by 75 days.

The president has since revealed that he is in discussions with multiple parties regarding the potential purchase of TikTok and expects to make a decision on the app’s future by February.

The establishment of a sovereign wealth fund marks a bold step in the Trump administration’s efforts to reshape U.S. economic policy, while the potential acquisition of TikTok underscores the ongoing tensions between the U.S. and China over technology and national security.