President Donald Trump announced Friday that Chinese President Xi Jinping has signed off on a deal to safeguard TikTok’s U.S. business. The agreement would transfer majority ownership of the platform to an American-led group of investors, securing the app’s future for its estimated 170 million U.S. users.
Outline of the Agreement
The leaders spoke over the phone, with Trump later describing the conversation as positive. On Truth Social, he wrote: “The call was a very good one, we will be speaking again by phone, appreciate the TikTok approval.”
While full details remain undisclosed, reports suggest that Oracle, Silver Lake, and Andreessen Horowitz will take control of 80% of TikTok’s U.S. operations. Chinese stakeholders would retain 20%. To address Washington’s national security demands, the entity will be managed by a U.S.-dominated board, with one seat specifically appointed by the U.S. government.
ByteDance’s Official Response
TikTok’s parent company, ByteDance, issued a rare public comment on the matter. On TikTok’s website, a spokesperson stated:
“We thank President Xi Jinping and President Donald J. Trump for their efforts to preserve TikTok in the United States. ByteDance will work in accordance with applicable laws to ensure TikTok remains available to American users through TikTok U.S.”
This declaration signals ByteDance’s willingness to cooperate with the arrangement, ensuring that TikTok continues to operate within U.S. regulations.
From Ban Threats to a Deal
The app has faced uncertainty since January, when legislation required ByteDance to divest most of its U.S. assets or face removal. Although the ban technically took effect, Trump repeatedly postponed enforcement as talks advanced, citing ongoing progress.
Earlier this week, speculation intensified when Trump hinted at a breakthrough on Truth Social. By Friday, both U.S. and Chinese leaders confirmed their support for the investor-driven solution.
The approval of the agreement is a key step in stabilizing U.S.-China relations while also preserving one of the most widely used apps in America. Still, questions remain about TikTok’s recommendation algorithm technology that Beijing has consistently refused to sell. For now, however, the deal signals that TikTok will remain accessible to millions of Americans.
