TikTok Deal in Limbo: Trump Claims US-China Agreement, But China's Official Line Remains Silent

TikTok Deal Sparks Confusion as Trump Claims Agreement with China In a surprise move, US President Donald Trump announced on Truth Social that the United States and China had agreed on a deal to prevent social media platform TikTok from being banned in the US. However, China's official readout of the call between Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday offered no such confirmation. According to Trump's statement, the call was "a very good one," and he expressed optimism about the potential agreement. He wrote: "The call was a very good one, we will be speaking again by phone, appreciate the TikTok approval, and both look forward to meeting at APEC!" However, China's official readout of the call, posted on the website of China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, took a more measured tone. It stated that China "respects the wishes of the company in question" and would be happy to see "productive commercial negotiations" lead to a solution that complies with Chinese laws and regulations. The lack of clarity surrounding the deal has left many wondering what exactly was agreed upon during the call between Trump and Xi Jinping. The specifics of any potential agreement remain unclear, and it is uncertain whether China has officially committed to the terms proposed by the US. TikTok, a social media platform owned by Chinese company ByteDance, has been at the center of a heated debate over national security concerns in recent months. The US government had threatened to ban TikTok unless its Chinese owners sold off their stakes in the company. The deal being proposed is likely related to a potential sale or restructuring of TikTok's ownership structure. However, any details on the shape and scope of the deal remain largely unclear as of Friday afternoon. In a statement, a spokesperson for ByteDance said: "We are aware of the reports but have no comment at this time." The implications of any potential agreement between the US and China on TikTok's ownership structure could be significant. A sale or restructuring of the company could help alleviate national security concerns in the US while also providing a potential exit strategy for ByteDance. However, the lack of clarity surrounding the deal has left many wondering what exactly was agreed upon during the call between Trump and Xi Jinping. As the situation continues to unfold, one thing is clear: any potential agreement will have far-reaching implications for the social media landscape and national security concerns in both the US and China. Background TikTok has been at the center of a heated debate over national security concerns in recent months. The US government had threatened to ban TikTok unless its Chinese owners sold off their stakes in the company. The deal being proposed is likely related to a potential sale or restructuring of TikTok's ownership structure. Additional Perspectives Experts say that any potential agreement between the US and China on TikTok's ownership structure could have significant implications for national security concerns in both countries. "This deal has the potential to alleviate some of the national security concerns surrounding TikTok," said Emily Taylor, a cybersecurity expert at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. "However, it is uncertain whether this agreement will address all of the concerns raised by the US government." Current Status As of Friday afternoon, the specifics of any potential agreement remain largely unclear. China's official readout of the call between Trump and Xi Jinping offered no confirmation of a deal, while Trump's statement on Truth Social expressed optimism about the potential agreement. The situation continues to unfold, and it is uncertain what exactly was agreed upon during the call between Trump and Xi Jinping. As the situation develops, one thing is clear: any potential agreement will have far-reaching implications for the social media landscape and national security concerns in both the US and China. *Reporting by Wired.*