Trump Announces TikTok Deal to Avoid US Ban, Cites Youth Support and Business Interest:

Washington, D.C. – Former President Donald Trump has announced a deal allowing TikTok to continue operating in the United States, temporarily resolving ongoing tensions over the platform’s Chinese ownership. The move comes after months of speculation and political wrangling over whether the popular video-sharing app poses a national security threat. Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, Trump revealed he would discuss the deal’s final details with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday. While specific terms were not disclosed, Trump indicated that major U.S. companies were interested in acquiring a stake in TikTok and emphasized the app’s popularity among young Americans. “We have a group of very big companies that want to buy it,” Trump said. “The kids want it so badly. I had parents calling me up. They don’t want it for themselves—they want it for their kids. They say, ‘If I don’t get it done, they’re in big trouble with their kids.’” In a significant move, Trump signed an executive order on Tuesday extending the deadline for ByteDance, TikTok’s China-based parent company, to divest from the platform. The new deadline is set for December 16. If ByteDance fails to comply, TikTok could still face a ban in the U.S. According to reports from The Wall Street Journal and The New York Times, the deal would reduce ByteDance’s ownership stake in TikTok to below 20%. Though not officially confirmed, this structure may help ease U.S. concerns over data privacy and Chinese government influence. China’s state-run People’s Daily welcomed the deal, describing it as a model of “cooperation for mutual benefit.” The newspaper stressed China’s commitment to protecting its national interests and pledged to handle related matters such as technology transfer and intellectual property rights in accordance with its laws. However, experts say the deal raises questions about what China may be receiving in return. Dr. Yan Liang, an economics professor at Willamette University, suggested that political and business motivations in the U.S. may be playing a larger role than security concerns. “Trump’s business allies have a strong interest in keeping TikTok alive, even without majority control of the company,” Liang told Al Jazeera. “I’d be surprised if China agreed without significant concessions from the U.S.” TikTok has over 170 million users in the U.S., and its fate has been a contentious issue in Washington. Bipartisan support for a forced sale or ban has grown amid concerns that the Chinese government could use the app to surveil American users or push propaganda. Ironically, Trump previously tried to ban TikTok during his first term, only to later shift course and claim credit for saving it as part of his 2024 re-election campaign. Critics of a ban argue it violates free speech and does little to address broader privacy issues affecting all social media platforms. Ryan Calo, co-director of the Tech Policy Lab at the University of Washington, called the deal “a win” for digital rights but criticized Trump’s unilateral approach. “This bypasses the legal process laid out by Congress,” Calo said. “It’s a blow to the rule of law.” Others, like Georgetown Law professor Anupam Chander, warned that political influence could still affect TikTok’s U.S. content. “If ownership changes hands to parties close to the current administration, users may start seeing shifts in the type of content promoted,” he said. As the December deadline approaches, all eyes are on what shape the final agreement will take—and what it means for tech regulation, national security, and digital freedom in the U.S.

NEWS