CASPER, WY — July 10, 2025 — Reid Rasner, founder and CEO of Rasner Media LLC, announced today that while the company’s $47.45 billion bid to acquire TikTok’s U.S. operations remains fully funded, there is currently no credible deal on the table that he is interested in continuing to pursue. Any agreement must fully comply with national security standards, must ensure China is totally out of the back door, and must include the original TikTok algorithm. As of now, Rasner Media is pausing its offer unless China makes substantial changes and demonstrates a genuine commitment to a transparent and lawful divestiture - not playing a shell game with a new watered-down application to cover their tracks from the original app.
Recent reports reveal ByteDance is attempting to spin off a diluted U.S. version of TikTok—one that deliberately excludes the core recommendation algorithm and underlying data infrastructure. “This is a shell game,” said Rasner. “By withholding the algorithm, China is pretending to comply while keeping control of the engine that drives TikTok - and likely obfuscates what they have been doing to manipulate and spy on Americans. That’s not transparency—it’s deception.”
Rasner underscored that his company’s bid is grounded in one principle: protect American users by removing Chinese influence and gaining full control of the algorithm. “We’ve said from day one—no deal without the algorithm and complete data access. That’s the only standard worthy of a serious top-dollar discussion we have attempted to have. China seems more interested in games and espionage than on a real top-dollar business deal,” Rasner stated.
“We proudly support President Trump’s leadership and his America-first vision,” Rasner continued. “His call for a sovereign digital future is exactly what this moment demands. But make no mistake—this is also a business deal. And so far, China has shown zero interest in negotiating in good faith or presenting a deal that passes the smell test.”
Rasner emphasized that his proposal aligns with the legal framework and national security imperatives outlined by both Congress and the Trump-aligned movement. “Until a legitimate offer is on the table, there is nothing to discuss. The door remains open—but we will never compromise our principles or allow China a backdoor into American lives, data, or devices,” he said. “I will not profit from a deal that enables continued Chinese deception or espionage against the very people we’re trying to protect.”
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