TikTok’s U.S. Deal Still in Limbo After Trump

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So remember that big Oval Office moment last month, the one where Donald Trump held up a pen, signed a piece of paper, and declared he’d “saved TikTok for America”?
Turns out, not so fast.

Despite the political theater, the much-talked-about U.S. TikTok deal remains exactly where it’s been for months: in limbo. Beijing still hasn’t approved any version of the proposed sale, and without that green light from China’s government, there’s no deal to finalize, no matter how many ceremonies take place in Washington.

Earlier this week, U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent suggested progress was being made, saying discussions with Chinese officials were “positive” and hinting that an announcement might follow Trump’s meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Thursday.

But when the two leaders finally sat down, TikTok didn’t make the cut. Trade, yes. Technology, maybe. But the future of one of the world’s most downloaded apps? Still up in the air.

Afterward, Bessent struck an optimistic tone:

“We finalized the TikTok agreement in terms of getting Chinese approval, and I would expect that would go forward in the coming weeks and months.”

Meanwhile, Chinese state media kept things vague, reporting that China would “properly resolve issues related to TikTok with the U.S. side.”

In other words: we’ll see.

China Daily went even broader, emphasizing that both sides are “guided by the principles of equality, respect, and mutual benefit,” and that results “did not come easily.” Translation: the U.S. might need to make good on other trade promises before TikTok even enters the conversation.

So, while Trump’s signing ceremony might have looked decisive, the reality is far less clear. TikTok’s American future is still a political bargaining chip, one caught between tech, trade, and two governments that both want the last word.

Featured image: Financial Times