Donald Trump claimed to have made a deal with ByteDance, the owner of TikTok, preserving the app for Americans. The President of China, Xi Jinping, gave Trump his blessing over the phone on Sept. 19, 2025, but ByteDance has not yet confirmed that a deal has been made official. The app will be run by a board of American investors and programmed to have an American algorithm. This should take the previously concerning “security threat” away.
Previously, TikTok needed to be sold to an American investor in order for it to be kept in the United States. China was known to be collecting American data through their algorithm, making the app a national security threat. With an American investor purchasing the app, user data would be kept in the United States.
In January 2025, TikTok in the United States was successfully banned for a couple of hours. TikTok did return, and since then, Donald Trump has made efforts and extended deadlines to keep the app in the United States.
Currently, he claims he’s come to a deal with the President of China, Xi Jinping, concerning the app. In late October, the deal will be discussed further at the APEC Summit in South Korea.
With this deal comes a few changes. TikTok will be run by a board of American investors, making it an American version of the app.
According to the NBC News, “Michael Dell and Media Mogul Rupert Murdoch will also be involved. Vice President JD Vance said more information will be revealed in the coming weeks.”
Trump has mentioned that the board of investors are all famous people, specifically financially.
According to BBC, “…YouTuber Jimmy Donaldson – AKA MrBeast – (was) previously touted as potential partners.”
With the board of investors comes a new, American-controlled algorithm.
According to Donald Trump, “China will own 20% of the new joint venture.”
This means the American board of investors will own the other 80%.
It is unclear if TikTok will look the same or if it will change along with the updated algorithm. The new algorithm is supposed to be based on the current version, but keeping the privacy of the United States’ user data.
China’s government, located in Beijing, has been hesitant when speaking about this “deal.”
According to BBC, “…it is extremely unlikely that TikTok’s parent company would sell its prize app without Beijing’s blessing.”
At this time, both parties are limiting information on the topic, but by late October more decisions should become apparent.
American citizens felt extremely passionate about the first TikTok ban, and they have opinions on the current issue as well.
When asked about the original TikTok ban, Salisbury High School student Payton Kao said, “When it did (get banned) I was kind of surprised, and it was interesting to see how many people were so upset about it…it showed how many people were addicted to TikTok.”
The change in TikTok ownership and format along with the lack of clarity on the situation may cause a similar reaction.
Kao brings up the panic brought to citizens when the realization of the app being gone for good set in. Many people started to realize the truth of the app’s addiction.
Chris Butynski, a teacher at Salisbury High School, shared his opinion on Donald Trump’s effort to keep TikTok in the United States, concerning the app’s influence and the government’s role in controlling it. He believes TikTok is “single-handedly destroying American culture.”
He said, “I am torn on whether the government should decide for us. With that kind of arbitrary ability to decide what we can and cannot see, one would hope that the government would choose the good. That is not the case, it will choose what serves it most. Private individuals should decide and parents should be more discerning about what their kids view and what they are viewing as well.”
His perspective brings up a broader national concern over whether the government should have the authority to control what content Americans consume, especially when it comes to social media platforms.
At this moment in time there is confusion, diverse opinions, and a lack of clarity on what will happen with TikTok, but it is almost certain the American people will be watching closely. The APEC Summit will tell if TikTok’s future is secure or if changes are still coming.
