Trump and Xi discuss future of TikTok in US

September 20, 2025

President Donald Trump announced a potential deal on TikTok's future in the US after a phone call with Chinese President Xi Jinping, though Beijing's confirmation was less definitive. The arrangement would reportedly allow US investors to acquire TikTok's American operations while licensing algorithm technology from ByteDance, avoiding a complete ban. Trump has repeatedly extended the deadline for ByteDance to divest TikTok's US business, with the latest extension pushing it to December.

Who is affected

TikTok's 170 million American users
ByteDance (TikTok's Chinese parent company)
Potential US investors including Oracle
US lawmakers concerned about Chinese Communist Party influence
US companies involved in the potential acquisition

What action is being taken

Trump and Xi are discussing the future of TikTok's US operations via diplomatic channels
Trump is repeatedly delaying implementation of the TikTok ban, with the latest extension to December
ByteDance is working "to ensure TikTok remains available to American users through TikTok US"
Chinese and US officials are conducting ongoing talks on trade issues, having held four rounds of discussions in recent months
The US is maintaining 20% tariffs on certain Chinese goods linked to fentanyl trafficking

Why it matters

The outcome will determine whether TikTok can continue operating in the US market
The situation involves complex national security concerns regarding Chinese access to US user data
The deal represents a significant trade and technology negotiation point between the US and China
The platform has become a key part of Trump's 2024 electoral campaign strategy
The resolution could affect broader US-China relations, including other trade issues like rare earth minerals and export controls

What's next

Trump and Xi will meet at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in South Korea in late October
Trump plans to visit China in early 2024, with Xi expected to visit the US at "an appropriate time"
The TikTok deal still needs to be formally signed, with a process for this potentially happening soon
Further negotiations are needed to resolve the algorithm ownership issue

Read full article from source: BBC