Trump: TikTok Deal ‘Virtually Done,’ China Discussions Begin Soon

A TikTok deal is “pretty much” reached, according to President Trump, who stated he would begin talks with China on Monday or Tuesday. This suggests a significant step towards finalizing the sale of the app’s US assets.
The prospect of high-level meetings, potentially involving President Xi Jinping, highlights the diplomatic importance of the TikTok issue. The current September 17 deadline for ByteDance to divest TikTok’s US assets marks the third extension granted by Trump.
Past efforts to formalize a deal, which involved spinning off TikTok’s US operations, were reportedly stalled by China’s disapproval in response to new US tariffs. This indicates a direct link between trade policy and the TikTok negotiations.
Despite expressing optimism about his relationship with President Xi and the deal’s potential benefits for both countries, Trump admitted a lack of complete confidence in Beijing’s approval. This cautious outlook contrasts with the ongoing criticism from Senator Mark Warner, who views Trump’s executive orders as a sidestepping of the law.