Trump Weighs TikTok Fate As US-China Talks Near September Deadline

US President Donald Trump has indicated that he may not extend the September 17 deadline for TikTok's parent company, ByteDance, to sell or shut down its US operations, stating that the app's fate depends largely on China. Trump has delayed this deadline three times previously but is now considering letting TikTok 'die' due to stalled negotiations and China's refusal to share TikTok's key algorithm with US buyers. Although there were plans to spin off TikTok into a US-based company majority-owned by American investors, China has blocked the deal, especially after Trump imposed new tariffs on Chinese goods earlier this year. Despite national security concerns cited by US lawmakers, Trump has expressed a desire to save TikTok for its many young users and acknowledged the platform's importance in helping him secure youth votes in the 2024 election. US and Chinese officials recently met in Madrid for trade talks that included discussions on TikTok, but progress remains slow. The situation highlights ongoing tensions between national security priorities and cultural and economic interests surrounding the popular social media app with over 170 million US users.