TikTok Deal Halted: Trump Claims Agreement, China Remains Mum on Details

TikTok Deal Sparks Confusion: Trump Claims Agreement, China Remains Silent In a surprise move, US President Donald Trump announced on social media that the United States and China had reached an agreement to prevent TikTok's ban in the US. However, the Chinese government has yet to confirm any deal, leaving the fate of the popular social platform uncertain. According to Trump's post on Truth Social, he spoke with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday and claimed that a deal was reached. "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!" Trump wrote. However, China's official readout of the call, posted on the website of China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, takes a more cautious tone. "The Chinese government respects the wishes of the company in question and would be happy to see productive commercial negotiations in keeping with market rules lead to a solution that complies with China's laws and regulations and takes into account the interests of both sides," the statement reads. The lack of clarity on the deal's terms has sparked confusion among experts and industry insiders. "It's unclear what exactly was agreed upon, if anything at all," said Emily Miao, a technology analyst at Forrester Research. "TikTok's future in the US is still up in the air." Background: The US government had been considering banning TikTok over concerns about data security and potential ties to the Chinese government. In August 2020, Trump signed an executive order that would have forced ByteDance, TikTok's parent company, to sell its US operations or face a ban. Implications: A deal between the US and China could pave the way for TikTok's continued operation in the US market. However, any agreement would need to address concerns about data security and ensure compliance with US regulations. Current Status: As of Friday afternoon, there was no official word from the Chinese government on whether a deal had been reached. The US government has not commented on the matter beyond Trump's social media post. Next Developments: The fate of TikTok in the US will likely remain uncertain until further details about any agreement are released. Industry insiders and experts will be watching closely for any developments that could impact the platform's future. *Reporting by Wired.*