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Us Politics
US politics live: Donald Trump approves huge change to TikTok that could affect the app’s algorithm for users
The millions of people who use TikTok could see changes to their algorithm as a result of a new deal announced by Donald Trump.
Benedict Brook in the US and Samuel Clench
less than 2 min read
September 26, 2025 – 8:28AM
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Albanese furious at reporter’s Trump question
Albanese furious at reporter’s Trump question
#auspol #trump #un #unitednations
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Sep 26, 2025
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Sep 25, 2025
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More Highlights
Welcome to our coverage of politics in the United States.
Donald Trump has formally approved a restructuring of TikTok, which will see a group of American investors hold a majority stake in the company.
Its Chinese parent company ByteDance, and its affiliates, will only own a bit under 20 per cent. Operations will now be overseen by a board based in the US as well, further diminishing China’s power over the app.
America’s Congress passed a law banning TikTok back in January, before Donald Trump took office, but he then delayed its implementation multiple times while the divestiture was being negotiated. (Technically the President did not have the legal authority to do that, but the Republican-controlled Congress wasn’t going to object, was it?)
The executive order Mr Trump signed today, approving the new plan for TikTok, is titled “saving TikTok while protecting national security”.
A happy byproduct, for the President, is that TikTok’s algorithm will now be controlled by a group of his own political allies. One does wonder what sort of fiddling they might do.
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Mr Trump was asked about that while speaking to reporters in the Oval Office.
“Now that Americans will have operational control, do you want to see the algorithm suggest more MAGA-related content?” a reporter asked.
“I always love MAGA-releated. If I could, I would make it 100 per cent MAGA-related. If I could, I would. It’s not going to work out that way, unfortunately,” said Mr Trump.
Vice President J.D. Vance also offered a comment.
“What this deal ensures is the American entity and the American investors will actually control the algorithm,” he said.
“We don’t want this used as a propaganda tool by any foreign government. We want to make sure that our people, and our investors actually make these decisions based on what’s good for their business, as opposed to what’s good for a foreign government’s propaganda arm.”
Read on for more updates.
Sep 26, 2025
HIGHLIGHT
‘100 per cent MAGA’: Trump asked about TikTok’s algorithm
Samuel Clench
Oh dear. I couldn’t even get through my first sentence of the day, in that previous post, without a typo, which doesn’t exactly bode well. But we trundle on.
While speaking to reporters in the Oval Office, Donald Trump was asked whether the restructuring of TikTok, which will see some of his own quite wealthy allies control its algorithm, might lead to the app becoming more pro-MAGA.
“Now that Americans will have operational control, do you want to see the algorithm suggest more MAGA-related content?” a reporter asked.
“I always love MAGA-releated. If I could, I would make it 100 per cent MAGA-related. If I could, I would. It’s not going to work out that way, unfortunately,” said Mr Trump.
49 minutes ago
Trump tries to bring back the death penalty in Washington
Samuel Clench
Donald Trump has directed the former TV host Jeanine Pirro, whom he recently appointed as the top prosecutor in Washington D.C., to start seeking the death penalty against criminals. D.C. abolished capital punishment back in 1981, though, so the legality of all this is tricky.
This happened during his aforementioned Oval Office appearance, where he signed a few executive orders in front of the media. The routine is: a staffer hands Mr Trump and order, and explains what it is to him. Then he signs it, and holds it up for the photographers. Rinse and repeat.
“OK, you understand?” the President said after the staffer’s explanation.
“Death penalty in Washington. You kill somebody, or if you kill a police officer, law enforcement officer, death penalty.
Sep 25, 2025
HIGHLIGHT
Trump approves plan to ‘save’ TikTok
Samuel Clench
Good morning! We’ve made it to Friday with the world largely intact.
Donald Trump has formally approved a restructuring of TikTok, which will see a group of American investors hold a majority stake in the company. Its Chinese parent company ByteDance, and its affiliates, will only own a bit under 20 per cent. Operations will now be overseen by a board based in America, as well, further diminishing China’s power over the app.
America’s Congress passed a law banning TikTok back in January, before Donald Trump took office, but he then delayed its implementation multiple times while the divestiture was being negotiated. (Technically the President did not have the legal authority to do that, but the Republican-controlled Congress wasn’t going to object, was it?)
The executive order Mr Trump signed today, approving the new plan for TikTok, is titled “saving TikTok while protecting national security”.
Sep 25, 2025
HIGHLIGHT
Odd route taken by Netanyahu to US raises questions
Benedict Brook
The aircraft carrying Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to the United Nation took an unusual routing on Thursday, local time, raising eyebrows.
The Israel government aeroplane, knows ate “Wings of Zion” did not take a direct path from Tel Aviv to New York which would have taken it over much of Europe.
Rather, it travelled down the Mediterranean Sea, flying over southern parts of Greece and Italy. At this point, flying north west over Spain and France would have made sense. But instead, the plane changed direction to the south west avoiding the territories of France, Spain and Portugal altogether.
It passed through the narrow Straits of Gibraltar that separates Europe and Africa, narrowly avoiding not just Spanish but also British and Moroccan territory too.
Sep 25, 2025
HIGHLIGHT
Hundreds of US military officers ordered to DC for rare meeting
Benedict Brook
US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth has summoned potentially hundreds of senior military officers from around the world to Washington DC next week for a meeting, the reason of which has yet to be disclosed.
The Washington Post has reported on the diktat which is said to be extremely rare.
While senior military officers head to Washington several times year, it is uncommon for so many to arrive at once.
“The Secretary of War will be addressing his senior military leaders early next week,” Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell said.
Sep 25, 2025
HIGHLIGHT
‘Stop’: Trump’s blunt demand of world leader
Benedict Brook
Donald Trump has bluntly told his Turkish counterpart to “stop buying any oil from Russia” when he met home at the White House.
Recep Tayyip Erdogan is in Washington DC to meet with Mr Trump. Turkey is a key member of NATO but also sees itself as a bridge to Russia.
In recent weeks while Mr Trump has hardened his stance on Russia, he has said he will only put more sanctions on Moscow if European and NATO countries stop buying oil from iota indirectly funding its war on Ukraine.
Europe no buys vastly less oil and gas from Russia since Vladimir Putin invaded Ukraine. But there are some holdouts, including Turkey.
Sep 25, 2025
Trump: ‘Close to a deal’ on Gaza
Benedict Brook
Donald Trump has said he is “close to a deal” on ending the war on Gaza.
He spoke about the conflict in a meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in the White House on Thursday, US time.
US President Donald Trump, right, speaks during a meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in the Oval Office of the White House, Thursday, Sept. 25, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
During his United Nations speech on Monday, Mr Trump called for the war in Gaza to end “immediately” and for the around 20 living hostages, and perhaps double the amount of bodies of hostages, to be released.
He also met a collection of Arab leaders and presented a possible peace plan.
Sep 25, 2025
HIGHLIGHT
Trump says he’s ‘allowed’ to intervene in court cases
Benedict Brook
Donald Trump has said he’d “be allowed to get involved” in a government prosecution of one of his foes, but chooses not to.
It’s another sign of the blurring of boundaries between President Trump’s desires and what is supposed to be distance between him and government departments so they are not clouded by accusations of bias.
Donald Trump really doesn’t like former FBI director James Comey.(AP Photo/Andrew Harnik, File)
The Department of Justice, for instance, is supposed to decide for itself who to prosecute based on the evidence at hand – not cave to demands from the president of the time.
But Mr Trump has increasingly called on people he doesn’t like or who have investigated him to be investigated themselves.
Sep 25, 2025
HIGHLIGHT
Trump won’t let Israel annex occupied West Bank
Benedict Brook
Donald Trump has reportedly told Arab leaders he won’t let Israel annex the West Bank.
Israel already militarily occupies the West Bank, a predominantly Palestinian populated region between Israel and Jordan. The Palestinian Authority has some control over parts of the West Bank although this is at the behest of Israel.
Israel has consistently added settlements in the West Bank for Jewish people to move into many of whom believe they have a right to the land.
The government of Israel President Benjamin Netanyahu include far right wing ministers who have called for Israel to absorb the West Bank completely. But Palestinians see the West Bank, Gaza and east Jerusalem as the core of a Palestinian state
Sep 25, 2025
HIGHLIGHT
VP brushes off government pressure to sack Kimmel
Samuel Clench
Another few quotes from Vice President J.D. Vance here, focused on the debate over Jimmy Kimmel.
“On the free speech conversation, I’m pretty sure Jimmy Kimmel was back on the air last night. And to the extent he’s not back on the air, it’s because he’s not funny and has terrible ratings,” said Mr Vance.
“This is not a federal government problem,” he insisted.
“The FCC Commissioner made a joke.
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