President Donald Trump has signaled the potential resolution of a contentious issue involving TikTok, the popular video-sharing app owned by China's ByteDance, amidst ongoing trade negotiations between the United States and China.
This development comes as both nations engage in high-stakes discussions aimed at addressing broader economic concerns.
According to Breitbart, President Trump recently took to his Truth Social platform to announce that his administration has reached an agreement concerning TikTok. This announcement coincides with high-level trade talks between the U.S. and China.
"The big Trade Meeting in Europe between The United States of America, and China, has gone VERY WELL! It will be concluding shortly," Trump stated. He further added, "A deal was also reached on a certain company that young people in our Country very much wanted to save. They will be very happy!"
The future of TikTok in the United States has been precarious since Congress enacted legislation in April 2024, mandating ByteDance to divest from the app or face a nationwide ban. This law, upheld by the Supreme Court, has seen its implementation delayed multiple times by the Trump administration, which has sought a resolution that addresses national security concerns while maintaining the app's availability for American users.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has confirmed that a framework for the TikTok deal has been established, noting that "commercial terms have been agreed upon." However, the specifics of this agreement remain undisclosed to the public.
This marks a shift from President Trump's earlier position, where he suggested the possibility of allowing the app to "die" if a satisfactory agreement was not reached. Recognizing TikTok's popularity among young voters, a demographic he has actively pursued during his campaign, Trump appears to have adjusted his approach.
In January, TikTok experienced a brief shutdown when the divestment law was poised to take effect. However, operations quickly resumed following assurances from both the incoming Trump administration and the outgoing Biden administration's decision not to enforce the measure. Since assuming office, Trump has signed several extensions to the deadline, providing additional time for negotiations.
Breitbart News has consistently highlighted the risks associated with China's TikTok, a topic extensively covered by Breitbart Senior Contributor Peter Schweizer in his book, "Blood Money: Why the Powerful Turn a Blind Eye While China Kills Americans." Schweizer elucidates the protracted nature of the TikTok deal, attributing it to China's reluctance to sell due to the app's algorithm being classified as a state secret.
The Chinese government has described TikTok as "a modern-day Trojan Horse" and a "key part of their information-driven mental warfare" against the West. Schweizer's book reveals ByteDance's collaboration with Chinese intelligence agencies on online manipulation strategies. "China has been studying this for years," Schweizer notes.
As the situation unfolds, the resolution of the TikTok issue remains a critical component of the broader U.S.-China trade negotiations, with implications for national security and the digital landscape.
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