Donald Trump said that he will start talking to China in the coming days about a possible deal with TikTok, which was banned in the United States over claims it posed a national security risk.
The president told reporters on Friday the U.S. “pretty much” has a deal on the video-sharing app.
Critics had said TikTok could hand over U.S. user data to the Chinese government, an accusation the company has denied.
Newsweek has contacted TikTok for comment.
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Why It Matters
Following national security concerns about TikTok user data, U.S. Congress passed a law in April 2024 forcing its sale.
A deal to spin off TikTok’s U.S. operations into a U.S.-based firm was paused after China responded to Trump’s announcements of tariffs on China. Trump’s comments could add clarity to the future of the app in the United States.
What To Know
Trump had criticized the app during his first presidential term but now supports its continued use in the U.S. and he extended to September 17 a deadline for the app’s China-based owners ByteDance to divest TikTok’s American assets.
That extension was Trump’s third executive order to delay the ban or sale of TikTok and gave ByteDance another 90 days to find a buyer.
Amid the uncertainty about the U.S. future of the app, Trump told reporters on Air Force One on Friday that talks with China would start next week, involving Chinese President Xi Jinping or one of his representatives. “We pretty much have a deal,” Trump added.
He said he might visit Xi in China or the Chinese leader may visit the U.S. following mutual invitations last month to visit their respective countries.
Trump had last month teased that there was a buyer for TikTok, telling Fox News there was a group of “very wealthy people” who were willing to acquire the platform, and there would be more certainty in “about two weeks.”
However, TikTok’s impact on democracy is under scrutiny. In May, investigative campaigning organization Global Witness told Newsweek it examined the platform’s algorithm and how it recommended political content.
The group said TikTok directed new, politically balanced users disproportionately to “hard-right content over and above all other content” ahead of elections in Romania, Poland and Germany.
“It raises the question, why is TikTok’s algorithm so into the hard right?” Global Witness campaign strategy lead Ava Lee said.
What People Are Saying
President Donald Trump said: “I think we’re gonna start Monday or Tuesday … talking to China … but we would, we pretty much have a deal.”
“I think it’s good for them. I think the deal is good for China, and it’s good for us,” he added.
What Happens Next
There will be anticipation over whether the deadline of 17 September for ByteDance to divest the U.S. assets of TikTok will be met.
A sale would need approval from the Chinese government, but Trump said he thought Xi would agree to it, touting his “great relationship” with the leader.
