President Donald Trump has announced that formal discussions between the United States and China over the future of TikTok are set to begin next week. The announcement comes amid rising anticipation regarding the fate of the Chinese-owned social media app in the U.S. market.
Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One on Friday evening, Trump revealed that negotiations are expected to commence as early as Monday or Tuesday. He suggested that the discussions may involve Chinese President Xi Jinping or another top representative from Beijing.
“We pretty much have a deal. I think we are gonna start Monday or Tuesday asking, talking to China… but we pretty much have a deal,” Trump said.
While optimistic, Trump clarified that the agreement is still subject to possible approval by Chinese authorities.
“Not definitely, but probably,” he added, hinting at the final steps needed to push the deal forward.
The president previously signed an executive order in June that extended the deadline for ByteDance, TikTok’s Chinese parent company, to divest from the app. The 90-day extension sets the new cutoff date to September 17, marking the third time the deadline has been moved since Trump’s return to the White House.
The executive action also instructed the U.S. Department of Justice to hold off on enforcing existing penalties tied to the legislation during the extended period.
Under President Biden’s administration, a law was enacted last year requiring ByteDance to either sell TikTok to an American buyer or face a nationwide ban on all U.S. networks. The legislation placed immense pressure on the company, stirring debate over user privacy, data security, and foreign influence.
Trump emphasized that the deal on the table would benefit both the U.S. and China economically.
“I think it’s good for them. I think the deal is good for China, and it’s good for us… and for us, it’s money,” he stated confidently.
In a previous interview with Fox News anchor Maria Bartiromo, Trump disclosed that a buyer for TikTok had already been identified. However, he declined to name the buyer during the segment.
“I’ll tell you in about two weeks,” Trump said, adding that the interested parties are “very, very wealthy people.”
Although Trump’s remarks suggest the deal is nearly finalized, the coming days will determine whether Chinese officials approve the terms. With the September deadline approaching, pressure is mounting to seal the deal and bring clarity to millions of TikTok users in the U.S.
