Presidents Trump and Xi endorse U.S. investor-led plan to keep TikTok running in the U.S., though no formal agreement has been published yet.
A Fragile Breakthrough for TikTok in the U.S.
After months of uncertainty, former President Donald Trump and ByteDance both publicly signaled the approval of a new deal aimed at keeping TikTok available to American users. The announcement, however, comes without specifics or an official agreement — raising more questions than answers about the app’s long-term future in the U.S.
- TikTok was banned in January 2025 over national security concerns.
- The ban has since been repeatedly delayed due to strong public backlash.
- A tentative deal now appears to be in place, but no legal documentation or terms have been disclosed.
The Emerging Structure of “TikTok U.S.”
According to The Wall Street Journal, the proposed deal involves a consortium of U.S. investors, including:
- Oracle
- Silver Lake
- Andreessen Horowitz
This group is expected to hold an 80% stake in a new U.S.-based entity known as TikTok U.S. ByteDance, TikTok’s Chinese parent company, would retain a minority 20% stake.
- The board of directors would be largely American.
- One U.S. government-appointed board member would provide oversight.
This structure is designed to address longstanding concerns that TikTok’s Chinese ownership poses risks to user data privacy and national security.
A Presidential Endorsement — Without Documentation
In a post on his platform Truth Social, Trump celebrated the approval:
“The call was a very good one, we will be speaking again by phone, appreciate the TikTok approval,” he wrote, referring to a recent discussion with Chinese President Xi Jinping.
ByteDance echoed the sentiment with a rare public statement thanking both leaders:
“We thank President Xi Jinping and President Donald J. Trump for their efforts to preserve TikTok in the United States.”
While both parties seem to agree in principle, no signed agreement or termsheet has been made public.
Public Pressure and Political Calculations
The Biden administration originally enforced the ban on TikTok due to its ties to China, citing concerns about potential influence operations and data harvesting. However, mounting backlash from creators, users, and free speech advocates forced the issue back into negotiations.
- TikTok has millions of U.S. users, particularly among Gen Z.
- Its removal triggered protests from both consumers and influencers.
The deal allows Trump, now a 2024 presidential candidate again, to claim a diplomatic and commercial win while avoiding alienating TikTok’s vast user base ahead of the election.
What’s Next for TikTok U.S.?
While the framework of the deal is now public, many crucial aspects remain uncertain:
- Who will run TikTok U.S. day-to-day?
- Will ByteDance have access to U.S. user data?
- Will the deal withstand regulatory and congressional scrutiny?
- When will the ban officially be lifted — if at all?
Until a formal agreement is signed and released, the future of TikTok U.S. remains tentative.
