President Trump Launches Establishment of U.S. Sovereign Wealth Fund with Possible TikTok Buyout
An executive order requires the establishment of a national investment fund; discussions are underway regarding the future ownership of TikTok.
On Monday, President Donald Trump issued an executive order instructing the U.S. Treasury and Commerce Departments to create a sovereign wealth fund within the coming year.
This fund may explore the possibility of acquiring a share in TikTok, the widely-used social media platform owned by China's ByteDance.
The administration has established a deadline of early April for TikTok to find an approved partner or buyer, with the potential for the U.S. government to obtain a 50% equity stake in the platform.
Sovereign wealth funds generally invest in various assets such as stocks, bonds, and real estate, often funded by budget surpluses.
However, the United States currently does not have such surpluses.
President Trump has indicated his ambition for the U.S. fund to eventually compete with the size of Saudi Arabia's sovereign wealth fund.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick have been assigned the task of developing the framework for this fund, which will necessitate congressional approval.
The administration intends to launch the fund within a year and is looking into investments in areas such as vaccine manufacturing.
At present, the U.S. has over 20 state-level sovereign wealth funds, financed through revenues from oil, gas, and minerals.