Trump Confirms TikTok Deal During U.S.-China Trade Talks

U.S. President Donald Trump indicated on Monday that an agreement on TikTok’s future in the United States may be imminent. In a post on his Truth Social account, he referred to a deal involving “a company that young Americans very much want to keep.

The update comes after trade talks in Madrid between U.S. and Chinese officials. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Washington and Beijing have made significant progress on resolving TikTok’s U.S. operations. “Regarding the TikTok deal itself, we are very close, or it may already be resolved. There are still other issues under discussion,” Bessent noted, emphasizing that national security remains the top priority.

TikTok, owned by China-based ByteDance, faces a September 17 deadline to sell its U.S. operations to a domestic company or risk being banned in the country under a law enacted during the Biden administration. Trump has extended the deadline twice, allowing ByteDance additional time to negotiate a satisfactory arrangement.

Experts say a U.S.-based sale would significantly change TikTok’s operations and regulatory responsibilities. “If a U.S. company takes control, it could provide more operational clarity but also introduce stricter oversight,” said Sarah Thompson, a Washington tech policy analyst.

Millions of TikTok users and creators in the U.S. are waiting to see how the situation unfolds. A potential ban could disrupt their daily content schedules and revenue streams, while a sale to a U.S.-based company could maintain platform access but may change how data is stored, privacy rules are enforced, and ads are managed.

President Trump weighed in on the broader trade negotiations, posting on Truth Social: “The big Trade Meeting in Europe between The United States of America, and China, has gone VERY WELL! I will be speaking to President Xi on Friday. The relationship remains a very strong one.”

In Congress, opinions diverge over TikTok’s future. A group of lawmakers, including members of the Senate Commerce Committee, say a sale to a U.S.-based company is essential to secure sensitive user data and prevent foreign influence. Others, particularly in the House Technology Subcommittee, warn that forcing the platform off U.S. soil could disrupt American content creators’ earnings and slow innovation in social media and digital advertising.

Meanwhile, ByteDance has remained tight-lipped publicly but is reportedly holding detailed negotiations with U.S. regulators and exploring potential buyers to comply with federal requirements before the September 17 deadline.

With just days left until the September 17 deadline, attention is focused on the trade talks. How TikTok’s U.S. operations are resolved could shape rules for other foreign-owned tech companies, influencing data practices, business operations, and international technology relations for the years ahead.

Also Read: Minnesota Sues TikTok, Calling It a “Digital Trap for Children”