Trump suggests TikTok deal reached during talks with China
President Trump suggested Monday that his administration has reached a deal on TikTok amid trade talks between the U.S. and China.
“The big Trade Meeting in Europe between The United States of America, and China, has gone VERY WELL! It will be concluding shortly,” he wrote on Truth Social. “A deal was also reached on a ‘certain’ company that young people in our Country very much wanted to save. They will be very happy!”
“I will be speaking to President Xi on Friday,” he continued. “The relationship remains a very strong one!!!”
A law requiring TikTok’s China-based parent company to divest from the app or face a U.S. ban was set to go into effect in January but has been repeatedly delayed by the Trump administration as the president has sought a deal. The latest extension is set to expire Wednesday.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent also said Monday that a framework had been reached on TikTok, noting that the “commercial terms have been agreed upon,” according to Reuters.
Trump's latest comments mark a shift in tone from Sunday, when he suggested the administration “may let it die.”
“I may. I may not,” he said, when asked about another extension. “We’re negotiating TikTok right now. We may let it die, or we may, I don't know. It depends, up to China. It doesn't matter too much. I'd like to do it for the kids. They like it. I mean, selfishly speaking, I did very well with TikTok, and I got the youth vote.”
The popular video-sharing company has remained in limbo for months. It briefly went dark in January, when the divest-or-ban law was meant to take effect. The measure, passed by large bipartisan majorities in Congress in April, 2024, would have barred TikTok from U.S. networks and app stores without a divestment.
However, following assurances from the incoming Trump administration and the Biden administration’s decision not to enforce the measure in its final days in office, the app came back online after just a few hours.
Trump signed an extension shortly after taking office. He initially appeared close to a deal in April, but these efforts were scuttled by his announcement of wide-ranging reciprocal tariffs on numerous countries, including China. He has since signed two more extensions.
Updated at 9:15 a.m. EDT