Trump Claims China Sabotaged TikTok Deal Following US Tariff Spat

Geopolitical tensions spill into tech as former President Trump alleges Chinese interference in TikTok's US operations.

Trade wars meet algorithm wars—just another day in the digital Cold War.

Wall Street shrugs—because nothing says 'stable investment' like a social media app caught between superpowers.

Trump says China stalled last deal after US tariffs

A deal had almost happened earlier this year. The plan WOULD have turned TikTok’s American operations into a new company, fully based in the United States and controlled mostly by American investors.

But right after Trump imposed steep tariffs on Chinese imports, China refused to approve the setup. The deal died right there. Beijing didn’t make any public statement rejecting it—but the silence was enough. Nothing moved forward.

Trump, still speaking to Bartiromo, repeated that the current buyers are “ready,” but stressed again that “China’s approval” is probably needed. He said, “I think President Xi will probably do it,” referring to the Chinese head of state. Trump didn’t give any timeline beyond his two-week teaser. But if the Chinese government blocks it again, the clock runs out in January.

He also made a point to say the app helped him with “young voters” during the last election. Trump believes TikTok boosted his numbers in 2024 and says he’s not ignoring that influence as he pushes for the sale.

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