What’s next for TikTok in America — a sale, a shutdown, or another last-minute twist?
U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent says Washington and Beijing have struck a “framework” deal.
The deal is to transfer TikTok’s U.S. operations into American hands.
Speaking after trade talks in Madrid, he called it a breakthrough that President Trump and President Xi will “complete” on Friday.
Trump, on Truth Social, hailed the talks as having “gone very well.”
China confirmed the framework but warned it won’t sacrifice its companies’ interests.
The clock is ticking: if ByteDance can’t sell TikTok’s U.S. arm by September 17, the app faces a nationwide ban.
Why The Urgency?
Earlier this year the Supreme Court upheld a 2024 law banning TikTok unless ByteDance divests.
U.S. officials cite “a national-security threat of immense depth and scale.”
ByteDance insists it’s independent and protected by free speech rights for its 170 million American users.
Trade negotiator Jamieson Greer says the U.S. isn’t “in the business of having repetitive extensions.”
China’s Li Chenggang insists Beijing will defend its principles.
Big names from Elon Musk to MrBeast have been floated as buyers.
Whether the app survives or changes hands, one thing is clear: TikTok’s biggest dance yet is with geopolitics.
