U.S. President Donald Trump announced plans to initiate discussions with China regarding a potential TikTok deal, signaling progress toward resolving the app’s uncertain future in the United States.
On Friday, Trump revealed that talks with China are slated to begin on Monday or Tuesday to address the sale of TikTok, the popular short-video app owned by China-based ByteDance.
The U.S. has been working toward spinning off TikTok’s U.S. operations into a new entity primarily owned and managed by American investors.
A deal appeared close earlier this year but stalled after China signaled it would not approve it, citing Trump’s recent tariffs on Chinese goods.
Trump emphasized that any agreement would likely require China’s approval, expressing cautious optimism about the outcome.
Last month, Trump extended the deadline for ByteDance to divest TikTok’s U.S. assets to September 17, marking his third executive action to delay a potential ban.
The initial reprieve came days after a Supreme Court ruling upheld a ban, followed by another extension in April, with the previous deadline set for June 19.
Trump also hinted at strengthening U.S.-China ties, noting he might visit Chinese President Xi Jinping or host him in the U.S., following mutual invitations last month.
The proposed deal aims to balance national security concerns with the app’s significant U.S. user base of 170 million.
While Trump stated the U.S. “pretty much” has a deal in place, he acknowledged uncertainties about China’s approval.
The administration’s efforts have drawn mixed reactions, with TikTok expressing gratitude for Trump’s leadership and pledging to collaborate with Vice President JD Vance’s office.
However, Democratic Senator Mark Warner criticized the executive actions as sidestepping legal mandates.
As negotiations loom, the outcome remains pivotal for TikTok’s future in the U.S. market and U.S.-China relations.