Trump Announces TikTok Deal with China to Keep App Running in the US
US President Donald Trump has confirmed a deal with China that will allow TikTok to continue operating in the United States, avoiding a nationwide ban on the popular video-sharing platform.
Agreement in Progress
Speaking to reporters, Trump said he would hold talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday to finalize the details of the agreement. The deal comes after months of uncertainty over TikTok’s future in the US, where it has more than 170 million users.
“We have some very big companies that want to buy it. And you know, kids want it so badly,” Trump said on Tuesday. “I had parents calling me, not for themselves but for their kids. They said if I don’t get it done, they’ll be in big trouble at home. I think it’s great. I’d hate to see that kind of value disappear.”
Later that day, Trump signed an executive order extending the deadline for TikTok’s parent company, ByteDance, to divest its US operations until December 16, or face a potential ban.
Ownership Changes Under the Deal
According to reports in The Wall Street Journal and The New York Times, the agreement would reduce ByteDance’s stake in TikTok to under 20 percent, transferring greater control to American investors.
China’s state-run People’s Daily described the deal as an example of “mutually beneficial cooperation,” while also stressing that Beijing would continue safeguarding national interests, particularly in areas like technology exports and intellectual property rights.
Expert Reactions
Economists and policy experts have expressed mixed reactions to the reported terms. Yan Liang, an economics professor at Willamette University, suggested China would likely demand concessions in return for giving up ownership.
“Trump has an interest in keeping TikTok alive for political reasons,” Liang said. “His business allies also want to preserve TikTok, even without majority control. I’d be surprised if China accepts this deal without significant benefits in return.”
Meanwhile, critics of the potential ban argued that shutting down TikTok would undermine free speech rights and do little to address broader privacy concerns across social media.
Ryan Calo, co-director of the Tech Policy Lab at the University of Washington, said, “I never thought the US should shut down TikTok over speculation. Striking a deal to preserve it here is a win. But creating a separate timetable outside the process set by Congress undermines the rule of law.”
Political and Social Concerns
TikTok’s role in US politics has also been highlighted. Trump previously sought to ban the app during his first term but later shifted to promising he would “save” TikTok while campaigning for re-election, noting its popularity among young voters.
Some experts, however, worry about the political influence of new ownership. Anupam Chander, a law and technology professor at Georgetown University, said, “Just as Americans questioned whether CBS’s new owners might shift its political stance, TikTok users may wonder if their content will be shaped by owners aligned with the current administration.”
Looking Ahead
The final outcome of the TikTok deal remains uncertain as negotiations continue. While the agreement appears to secure TikTok’s future in the US for now, questions remain over ownership, user data security, and potential political influence on content.