As a US ban deadline looms, Trump signals a near-final TikTok deal, raising questions about tech, trade, and geopolitical leverage with China.
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| Trump says a TikTok sale is nearly done as US pressure mounts on China. But uncertainty over data, control, and tech sovereignty remains. Image: CH |
MIAMI, USA — April 4, 2025:
As the deadline approaches for TikTok to cut ties with its Chinese owner or face a ban in the United States, President Donald Trump has declared that a deal is “very close.” Yet behind the headline, the negotiations reflect not just a tech acquisition but a broader clash over national security, economic control, and global influence.
Speaking aboard Air Force One, Trump said talks were progressing with “a very good group of people,” indicating that multiple US investors are involved in what may become a complex ownership restructuring. While he avoided naming the parties, reports suggest Oracle and Blackstone are among the lead contenders, with Amazon making a last-minute bid.
TikTok, which now has more than 170 million users in the US, became a geopolitical flashpoint after lawmakers accused its parent company ByteDance of being subject to Chinese government influence. In response, a law passed with broad bipartisan support last year requiring the app to sever ties with ByteDance. That law took effect on January 19, just one day before Trump returned to office.
Rather than enforcing the ban immediately, Trump issued a temporary delay, which is set to expire on April 5. He has consistently played down the prospect of TikTok disappearing from American devices, instead portraying the situation as an opportunity to exert leverage in wider trade talks with China. “The tariffs give us great power to negotiate,” he said, hinting at the possibility of a deal that goes beyond tech and into tariffs and strategic concessions.
The emerging framework of the deal appears to involve US stakeholders in ByteDance transitioning their stakes into a new global TikTok entity. The goal is to reduce Chinese ownership significantly while maintaining access to the platform’s massive user base and key technologies. Oracle, already hosting TikTok’s US data, is seen as central to the plan.
Still, major uncertainties remain. Chief among them is what happens to TikTok’s algorithm—the core technology driving user engagement and data collection. Licensing the algorithm from ByteDance has been floated as a potential solution, but such an arrangement could reignite concerns over data access and influence.
While Trump is betting on a deal to satisfy both regulatory demands and geopolitical ambitions, the clock is ticking. Whether this last-minute diplomacy will result in a lasting resolution—or a temporary political win—remains to be seen.