Trump and Xi Talk on TikTok’s Future in the US

US President Donald Trump announced that he and Chinese Premier Xi Jinping reached an understanding over the future of TikTok’s US operations during a phone call on Friday, though Beijing has not yet confirmed the deal.

Writing on Truth Social, Trump described the conversation as “productive” and said he valued Xi’s approval of an agreement that would see TikTok’s American business transferred to a consortium of US investors. However, China’s state-run Xinhua News Agency offered a less definitive account, quoting Xi as saying that Beijing “welcomes negotiations” over the platform.

TikTok, owned by Chinese company ByteDance, has faced pressure from Washington to sell its US arm or face a shutdown. Trump has repeatedly postponed enforcement of the ban since it was announced in January, most recently extending the deadline to December.

Trump said he and Xi also made progress on trade issues and planned to meet in person at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) summit in South Korea at the end of October. He also announced plans to visit China early next year, with Xi expected to make a reciprocal trip to the US.

Although Trump told reporters the deal was not yet finalized, he said it would give the US “very tight control” of the app. Reports suggest the deal involves several US firms, including Oracle, co-founded by Trump ally Larry Ellison, with TikTok continuing to use ByteDance’s algorithm under license. However, ownership of the algorithm remains a major sticking point.

ByteDance issued a statement affirming it would follow all relevant laws to keep TikTok available in the US, thanking both leaders for their efforts. Still, skepticism remains among US lawmakers, who warn of possible ongoing influence by the Chinese Communist Party if the ByteDance algorithm remains in use.

While Trump initially pushed for TikTok’s ban during his first term, he now views the platform as a valuable tool, including for his 2024 re-election campaign. In early 2024, the Supreme Court upheld legislation banning the app unless ByteDance divested from its US operations, but enforcement has been repeatedly delayed.

Friday’s phone call marked the second Trump-Xi conversation this year. Their previous discussion in June centered on rare earth exports, leading to China granting limited permits to US firms. Ongoing disputes over tariffs, technology restrictions, and agricultural trade remain unresolved, though both sides have avoided the harshest measures so far.