Trump Ready for TikTok Talks: ‘Pretty Much’ a Deal in Hand

President Trump announced he would initiate discussions with China on Monday or Tuesday regarding the sale of the popular short-video app, TikTok. He stated that the United States has “pretty much” secured a deal for the app, which boasts 170 million users in the US. These high-stakes talks could involve Chinese President Xi Jinping or his representatives, underscoring the diplomatic weight of the situation.
The announcement comes after Trump’s third extension of the deadline for ByteDance, TikTok’s Chinese parent company, to divest its US assets. The new deadline is September 17. The previous attempts at a sale, including one this spring for a US-majority-owned firm, were reportedly stalled when China signaled disapproval, particularly after new tariffs on Chinese goods were imposed.
Despite the complexities, Trump expressed optimism, noting his “great relationship” with President Xi. He believes the potential deal would be mutually beneficial for both China and the US. However, he admitted a lack of full confidence that Beijing would ultimately approve the agreement.
The ongoing saga of TikTok’s fate in the US has drawn criticism, with Democratic Senator Mark Warner accusing Trump of overstepping legal boundaries through executive orders. The senator, who serves as vice-chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee, highlighted concerns about bypassing established law and the national security implications of China-controlled TikTok.