Trump and Xi Jinping Discuss Tiktok Contract
President Donald Trump recently announced that he and Chinese President Xi Jinping have met in person for the first time since his re-election. He remarked that they are making “progress” on Tiktok’s contract.
In a post shared on Truth Social, Trump reflected on what he called “a very productive call” with President Xi.
“We have made progress on many very important issues, including trade, fentanyl, the need to end the war between Russia and Ukraine, and the approval of the new Tiktok trade,” he noted.
Trump has postponed the enforcement of a law requiring Tiktok’s parent company, Bytedance, to either divest its social media apps or face a ban in the U.S. due to national security concerns. The most recent extension, which was approved on Tuesday, lasts until December 16.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent indicated that a “framework” agreement has been established to keep the platform operational in the U.S.
During a press conference with British Prime Minister Kiel Starmer, Trump expressed his appreciation for Tiktok and its potential value.
“We’ll talk to President Xi on Friday to see if we can confirm something with Tiktok because it’s incredible value. I hate giving it value, but I like Tiktok.”
Last week, Trump mentioned that conservative activist Charlie Kirk suggested creating a Tiktok account for the 2024 presidential election, believing it could resonate well with younger voters.
“Tiktok has incredible value,” Trump reiterated. “We have to approve it, so the U.S. has its value in hand. I have the right to approve it specifically.”
Trump also said he and Xi have plans for future meetings.
“I also agreed with President Xi to meet at the APEC summit in South Korea, to go to China early next year, and likewise for President Xi to come to the U.S. at the right time,” he noted.
The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit is set for October 31 to November 1 in Kyoto, South Korea, where 21 economic leaders will discuss trade and cooperation.
Trump’s last face-to-face meeting with Xi took place in 2019 during the G20 summit in Osaka, Japan. Plans for Trump’s visit to China are in place for 2026, but no specific date has been revealed; his last visit occurred during his first term in 2017.
Xi is also expected to visit the U.S. at a future date; his most recent visit was at the 2023 APEC Summit when he met with former President Joe Biden.
“Cole was very good,” Trump said. “We spoke again on the phone, thanking Tiktok for his approval and looking forward to seeing both at APEC!”
This stance contrasts sharply with Trump’s earlier conversation with Xi in June, when tensions were high amid a trade war marked by a 145% tariff rate.
