The Trump Administration announced on Monday that it had reached a “framework” agreement with China concerning the popular app, just days before it was scheduled to be blocked for an estimated 135 million users in the United States.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent informed reporters, following two days of trade discussions with China in Madrid, that a deal was nearing finalization, and that Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping were slated to speak on Friday to “complete” the arrangement.
“The framework involves a transition to U.S.-controlled ownership,” Bessent stated, without offering further specifics.
Prior to Bessent’s announcement, Trump had signaled the conclusion of a deal in a social media post.
“The significant Trade Meeting in Europe between the United States of America and China has proceeded EXCEPTIONALLY WELL!” Trump posted on Truth Social. “An agreement was also achieved concerning a ‘particular’ company that young individuals in our Nation were very eager to preserve.”
TikTok’s legal standing in the United States has been uncertain since a 2024 law, which was affirmed by the courts, compelled the company’s Chinese parent, ByteDance, to sell to an American buyer, after lawmakers cited security concerns.
This legislation resulted in TikTok becoming unavailable in the United States on the evening of January 18, vanishing from U.S. app stores—only for the video application to reappear online hours later after Trump confirmed he had extended the deadline for ByteDance’s sale. Trump has since extended this deadline multiple times, with the most recent expiring on September 17.
U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer indicated that the deadline might be extended further to finalize the framework agreement.
Trump’s current advocacy for TikTok marks a significant departure from his initial term in office, when Trump himself moved to prohibit the application.
In August, the White House established its own TikTok account, signaling Trump’s efforts to finalize a deal and his confidence in the app’s continued operation.