President Donald Trump says he hopes to “finalise something on TikTok” when he speaks with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday, placing the fate of the video-sharing app at the top of the agenda in their upcoming call.
The app’s US operations have been in limbo for months as Washington pushes for Chinese parent company ByteDance to sell to American investors, citing national security concerns. Trump has repeatedly delayed a ban on TikTok, first enacted under his predecessor Joe Biden, and now wants a deal that ensures its ownership is fully American.
“TikTok’s US business would be owned by all American investors, and very rich people and companies,” Trump said in an interview with Fox News on Thursday. He added that TikTok has helped him connect with younger voters and credited the app with boosting his 2024 election win.
The Wall Street Journal has reported that potential buyers could include a consortium featuring Oracle and California investment firms Silver Lake and Andreessen Horowitz.
While tariffs and trade are also expected to feature in Friday’s discussion, analysts say both leaders are likely to focus on claiming victory in the TikTok standoff. Ali Wyne, an expert at the International Crisis Group, noted that “each leader will aim to signal that he has outmaneuvered the other.”
The call will be the second between Trump and Xi since Trump returned to the White House in January.
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