Trump Announces TikTok Deal, Credits Charlie Kirk Amid China Talks
UPDATE: President Donald Trump has just announced a significant deal to keep TikTok available to American users, crediting the late Charlie Kirk for his influence on young voters. In a press conference from the Oval Office earlier today, Trump confirmed that he spoke with Chinese President Xi Jinping this morning, resulting in an agreement to divest part of TikTok’s ownership to U.S. business leaders.
The urgency of this deal comes as TikTok has faced potential bans in the U.S. due to security concerns surrounding its Chinese ownership. Trump emphasized that the deal will ensure TikTok’s operations in the United States are “controlled by very powerful and very substantial American people.” He stated, “It’s a great deal for our country and for all of the young people in the country.”
During his remarks, Trump highlighted TikTok’s immense popularity among American youth, asserting that Kirk had encouraged its usage to mobilize young voters. “Charlie was very much in favor of TikTok; he liked TikTok,” Trump recalled, adding that Kirk believed its engagement potential was crucial for reaching a younger demographic.
Trump declared that Kirk’s efforts were instrumental in his 2024 campaign, stating, “If you take a look at my numbers, no Republican has ever done anything like it. We got massive numbers of youth, and by the way, helped very much by Charlie Kirk.” He added, “It probably had a pretty big effect on the election because we won the election by a lot.”
The announcement comes as Trump has delayed enforcing a law passed by Congress in 2024, which mandated TikTok to divest its ownership from China. Trump reflected on his previous skepticism towards the platform, saying, “I wasn’t a fan of TikTok, and then I got to use it, and I became a fan, and it helped me win the election in a landslide.”
Pressed on whether the TikTok deal was fully ratified, Trump replied, “I think so. And when you say fully approved, I don’t know what that means; we have to get it signed, I guess.” He reassured reporters that the deal is in the process of being finalized, expressing confidence in the discussions with Xi.
Trump’s push to keep TikTok available comes amid increasing demands from young Americans to preserve the platform. “They wanted to see it,” he explained, emphasizing the importance of TikTok for youth engagement.
As developments continue, the impact of this deal on both American politics and social media landscape will be closely monitored. With Trump’s focus on youth outreach and digital engagement, the implications of this agreement could resonate throughout the 2024 election cycle.
Stay tuned for more updates as this story develops.
