World

Trump Hints at TikTok Deal, Teases Xi Jinping Talks Amidst China Trade Discussions

Trump says a deal is reached for TikTok; will speak with Xi Jinping on Friday about it.

September 15, 2025, 5:19 PM

Xi Jinping is the President of the People's Republic of China. New York, US - 01 May 2025. By Shutterstock.com - Photo Agency.

Executive Summary

President Donald Trump announced a deal concerning a “certain company,” widely understood to be TikTok, amidst ongoing U.S.-China discussions.

Trump’s announcement followed a positive assessment of trilateral trade talks involving the U.S., EU, and China, and his plan to speak with Chinese leader Xi Jinping.

U.S. officials have raised concerns about TikTok’s data security due to its Chinese ownership, potential data sharing with the Chinese government, and its proprietary algorithm.

The Story So Far

The dispute surrounding TikTok, a popular social media app owned by Chinese company ByteDance, stems from significant U.S. national security and data privacy concerns. These concerns are rooted in fears that Chinese laws could compel the company to provide user data to the Chinese government, making the app’s ownership, data handling practices, and proprietary algorithm central to the ongoing, complex discussions between the United States and China.

Why This Matters

President Trump’s announcement of a deal concerning a “certain company,” widely understood to be TikTok, signals a potential, albeit possibly temporary, resolution to the popular app’s uncertain future in the U.S., which could alleviate immediate concerns for its millions of users and its competitive standing. This development, occurring amidst positive assessments of trilateral trade talks and an upcoming call with Chinese leader Xi Jinping, suggests a possible de-escalation of tech-related tensions between the U.S. and China, even as underlying U.S. concerns about data security and foreign influence on digital platforms are likely to persist and shape future policy.

Who Thinks What?

President Donald Trump indicated that a deal has been reached concerning a “certain company,” widely understood to be TikTok, which young people in the U.S. wanted to save, and he views recent trilateral trade discussions as successful.

U.S. officials have raised concerns about TikTok’s ownership and operational ties to China, fearing that Chinese laws could compel the company to provide user data to the government, potentially compromising privacy and national security.

Young people in the U.S. “very much wanted to save” the “certain company” (TikTok), according to President Donald Trump.

President Donald Trump on Monday indicated that a deal had been reached concerning a “certain company,” widely understood to be social media giant TikTok, amidst ongoing discussions with China to resolve the dispute over the popular app. Trump, who also lauded a recent trade meeting involving the United States, the EU, and China as successful, announced plans to speak with Chinese leader Xi Jinping on Friday.

Trump’s Announcement

The announcement was made by Trump on his Truth Social platform, where he stated that a deal was reached on a “certain” company that “young people in our Country very much wanted to save.” This statement followed his positive assessment of the trilateral trade discussions.

Background on TikTok

TikTok is one of over 100 applications developed by ByteDance, a technology firm founded in 2012 by Chinese entrepreneur Zhang Yiming. The company is headquartered in Beijing’s northwestern Haidian district, reflecting its origins within China’s burgeoning tech sector.

The app experienced significant growth during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns, becoming widely recognized for its short-form videos and viral dance trends. Its success prompted competitors like Instagram and YouTube to introduce similar features, known as Reels and Shorts, respectively.

U.S. Concerns Over Data Security

Alongside its global popularity, TikTok has faced scrutiny from U.S. officials regarding its ownership and operational ties to China. Concerns have been raised about Chinese laws that could compel companies to provide data to the government, potentially compromising user privacy and national security.

Another point of contention has been TikTok’s proprietary algorithm, which determines the content users see on their feeds. The algorithm’s influence and data handling practices have been central to the ongoing discussions between Washington and Beijing.

Ongoing Geopolitical Dynamics

The potential agreement highlights the intricate relationship between technology, national security, and international trade that characterizes the interactions between the United States and China. TikTok remains a prominent example of how these broader geopolitical discussions often intersect with popular culture and digital platforms.