Donald Trump claimed Thursday that China has given its blessing to a proposed deal over TikTok, though officials and analysts caution that the wildly popular app’s future in the U.S. is still shrouded in uncertainty. Speaking to reporters after a campaign stop in Michigan, Trump said he had been informed that Beijing was “ready to move forward” on the agreement, which would shift TikTok’s U.S. operations under American oversight. The New York Times reported that while Trump sounded optimistic, neither China nor the companies involved have confirmed a finalized arrangement.
“I hear China has approved it. That’s what I’m told,” Trump said, according to Reuters. “But we’ll see what happens. TikTok is a big problem, a national security problem, and we’re going to fix it.” The former president has long pushed for forcing TikTok’s Chinese parent company, ByteDance, to divest from the app’s U.S. operations, citing concerns about user data being accessed by Beijing. His remarks Thursday immediately stirred confusion, as Chinese state media offered no corroboration.
Trump says China approved TikTok deal. China hasn’t said anything publicly. The fate of the app is still murky. — @axios
TikTok, used by more than 170 million Americans, has become a political lightning rod. Trump has alternated between threatening to ban it outright and insisting that a sale to U.S. investors would protect users while preserving the platform. CNN reported that a consortium led by U.S.-based firms remains in talks with ByteDance, but negotiations have dragged on for months amid disputes over data protections and intellectual property rights.
China’s Ministry of Commerce, which must sign off on any sale involving TikTok’s algorithms, has remained tight-lipped. Analysts told The Guardian that Beijing is unlikely to surrender control without extracting concessions, raising doubts about Trump’s assertion. “There is no public evidence that China has approved anything,” one trade expert said. “This could be political spin rather than a breakthrough.”
Trump: “China has approved the TikTok deal.” Beijing: [silence]. — @RiegerReport
The Biden administration has also declined to confirm Trump’s remarks, though officials have acknowledged that talks are ongoing. According to The Washington Post, White House aides are wary of Trump taking credit for progress, especially given his erratic history with the app. In 2020, Trump issued an executive order threatening to ban TikTok outright, a move blocked by courts after legal challenges.
For creators who depend on TikTok for income, the uncertainty has become unbearable. Influencers interviewed by The Los Angeles Times said they are already preparing backup plans on YouTube and Instagram in case the app disappears. “We live in limbo every day,” said one 22-year-old content creator. “One minute it’s banned, the next minute it’s saved. Nobody knows what’s real.”
TikTok creators waking up every morning: “Is today the day we lose our jobs?” — @MattBinder
Even investors remain on edge. Market analysts told The Wall Street Journal that until Beijing publicly signs off on the deal, Trump’s comments should be treated with skepticism. ByteDance, for its part, has offered no comment, fueling speculation that negotiations may still be stuck over who ultimately controls TikTok’s powerful recommendation algorithm.
As the debate drags on, one thing is clear: Trump’s suggestion that China approved the deal has only deepened confusion. Whether it was an inside scoop, a political bluff, or a misunderstanding, the fate of TikTok — and the millions of users and businesses that depend on it — remains just as uncertain as before.
