Trump Strikes Deal to Keep TikTok Alive in the U.S.
It could give TikTok’s 170M U.S. users relief for now, but the platform’s future still hangs on politics.
TikTok just got a new lease on life in the U.S. and it came straight from President Donald Trump.
On Tuesday, Trump announced he had finalized a deal with China that allows the viral short-video platform to keep operating stateside. It’s a major development after months of uncertainty about TikTok’s future.
Alongside the deal, he signed an executive order extending the deadline for TikTok’s Chinese owner, ByteDance, to divest from the platform until December 16. Without it, TikTok was staring down a total ban.
“We have a group of very big companies that want to buy it. And you know, the kids want it so badly,” Trump told reporters. “I had parents calling me up. They don’t want it for themselves, they want it for their kids. If I don’t get it done, they are in big trouble with their kids.”
Trump didn’t name potential buyers, but reports suggest the agreement would cut ByteDance’s stake in TikTok to below 20%, putting more of the platform under American control. The deal also touches on sensitive issues like tech export approvals and intellectual property rights.
Ogbonda Chivumnovu
TikTok’s fate has been one of the most heated flashpoints in U.S.–China relations. Lawmakers in both parties have long argued that Chinese ownership poses national security risks, from surveillance to propaganda. Last year, Congress overwhelmingly passed a law requiring TikTok’s sale or face a ban. Trump himself once pushed for its removal, before later pivoting during his re-election campaign and promising to “save” it—a move he credits with helping him win younger voters.
In Beijing, though, the spin looks very different. China’s People’s Daily, the Communist Party’s official newspaper, called the deal “an example of cooperation for mutual benefit.” It’s a softer gloss on what has been a bruising geopolitical standoff.
And the stakes are pretty huge. TikTok claims more than 170 million users in the U.S., making it one of the most influential platforms among young Americans. From music charts to political discourse, its cultural impact is undeniable. That’s why this deal matters far beyond the boardroom—for millions of users, TikTok isn’t just an app; it’s where internet culture happens.
For now, TikTok fans can breathe a sigh of relief. But its future still depends on how the deal plays out, and whether Washington and Beijing can keep their uneasy truce intact.
Emmanuel Oyedeji
