President Trump declared that he is ready to seal a TikTok deal, announcing that discussions with China will commence on Monday or Tuesday, believing the US has “pretty much” reached an agreement. This signifies a proactive approach to resolving the app’s ownership.
The prospect of President Xi Jinping or his representatives joining the discussions underscores the high-level focus on the issue. This comes after Trump’s third extension of the deadline for ByteDance to divest TikTok’s US assets, now set for September 17.
Previous efforts to spin off TikTok’s US operations into a US-controlled entity were reportedly halted by China’s reaction to new US tariffs. This history reveals the delicate balance of economic and political leverage in the ongoing discussions.
Despite a “great relationship” with President Xi, Trump acknowledged that China’s approval is not guaranteed, expressing a degree of uncertainty. This dynamic has fueled criticism from Democratic Senator Mark Warner, who argues that the executive orders are an attempt to bypass legal requirements.
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