Trump and Xi Reach Agreement on TikTok's Future in the U.S.

Sun Oct 19 2025 23:28:53 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

In a significant phone call, U.S. President Donald Trump announced a deal with Chinese President Xi Jinping regarding the future operations of TikTok in the United States. While details remain unclear, both leaders expressed optimism about negotiations.

During a phone conversation, President Trump reported that both he and President Xi approved a deal concerning TikTok's U.S. operations. Although Trump expressed gratitude for Xi's approval of the arrangement, Chinese state media offered a less definitive stance, signaling ongoing negotiations. This development comes after a history of threats to ban TikTok unless it sells its U.S. operations, with potential buyers including major American firms. Yet, concerns remain about ByteDance's influence over TikTok's algorithm and the implications for U.S. national security.

U.S. President Donald Trump has said that he and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping approved a deal on the future of TikTok's U.S. operations during a phone call on Friday, although there was no confirmation from Beijing.

Trump wrote on Truth Social that the call was productive and he appreciated Xi's approval of deal, which would reportedly see TikTok's U.S. business sold to a group of U.S. investors.

China's official state news agency Xinhua left the outcome of their discussion less clear, with Xi quoted as saying that Beijing welcomes negotiations over TikTok.

TikTok, which is run by Chinese firm ByteDance, was previously told it had to sell its U.S. operations or risk being shut down.

Trump, however, delayed implementing the ban four times since it was first announced in January, and earlier this week extended the deadline again to December.

In his post, Trump wrote the two had made progress on trade issues and would meet at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) summit, scheduled to begin at the end of October in South Korea, and said he would travel to China.

In a further update, Trump mentioned that a deal still had to be signed and signaled that a formal process to do so could happen soon. He indicated expectations to have very tight control of the app, with American firms, particularly Oracle, likely to be involved in the deal that would ensure TikTok continues to operate in the U.S.

Moreover, concerns persist about the algorithm that powers TikTok, as many U.S. lawmakers remain wary of ByteDance's connections to the Chinese Communist Party.

The call between Xi and Trump marks an important step in navigating the tense U.S.-China relationship, particularly surrounding technological and trade matters.