Trump to Initiate Talks with China Over TikTok Sale
President Trump announced he plans to start discussions with China soon about selling TikTok, the widely used app.
“We mostly trade,” Trump mentioned to reporters late Friday. “I think we’ll kick things off on Monday or Tuesday. I’ll be talking to China, maybe with President Xi or one of his representatives. We’re close to a deal.”
According to the president, the White House will likely need to get China’s approval for such deals involving social media platforms like TikTok.
Trump’s comments followed a report indicating he has identified a buyer for the controversial Chinese-owned app. However, the main hurdle seems to be the Chinese seller’s demands.
Sources indicate that TikTok is being leveraged in the trade talks between the U.S. and China, as Beijing is aware of Trump’s desire to keep the app available in the U.S.
It’s believed that TikTok won’t proceed with a sale to any American investors until the Chinese president is satisfied they have negotiated the best possible terms regarding trade with the U.S., as stated by a source.
Last month, Trump signed an executive order that extended the deadline for TikTok’s China-based parent company to sell in the U.S. until September 17th, marking the third extension since he reassumed office in January.
Back in April, there was interest from wealthy investors and tech leaders to bid on TikTok’s U.S. operations, but that was halted when Trump initiated a trade war with China, resulting in hefty tariffs on imports.
When addressing his confidence about reaching an agreement with China, Trump reflected, “I’m not overly confident, but I think so. President Xi and I have a strong relationship, which I believe is mutually beneficial.”
Last year, Congress voted largely in favor of banning TikTok unless it found a buyer, with the Senate passing the vote 79-18 and the House following with a 360-58 majority. President Biden later signed this legislation into law.
Upon taking office, Trump paused the implementation of the ban for an initial 75 days.
While critical of TikTok for its data collection during his first term, Trump faced bans on major U.S. social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter following the events of January 6, 2021.
