In a dramatic twist to the high-stakes showdown over TikTok's future, the White House announced Saturday that an emerging agreement with China will hand Americans ironclad control of the app's addictive algorithm and a commanding majority on its oversight board, potentially averting a nationwide ban set to kick in come January.
The revelation comes amid months of tense negotiations between Washington and Beijing, fueled by national security fears that ByteDance, TikTok's Chinese parent company, could exploit the platform's powerful recommendation engine to manipulate U.S. users or harvest sensitive data. Congress's bipartisan legislation demanded ByteDance divest its U.S. operations or face a shutdown, but President Donald Trump has wielded executive orders like a lifeline, repeatedly delaying enforcement to buy time for a deal.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt laid out the bold terms during a Fox News appearance on "Saturday in America," painting a picture of U.S. dominance. "Tech powerhouse Oracle will handle all data and security for the app," she declared, adding that a newly structured board would feature seven seats—with six held by Americans. "We're 100 percent confident a deal is done; it just needs signatures. The president's team is hammering it out with the Chinese right now."
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The algorithm—the secret sauce behind TikTok's endless scroll of viral dances, memes, and midnight binges—has been the hottest potato in talks. Leavitt didn't mince words: "The algorithm will be controlled by America as well." This assurance addresses a core congressional gripe: that China could weaponize the AI-driven feed to spread propaganda or spy on 170 million American users.
The breakthrough follows a marathon phone call Friday between Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping, where the leaders reportedly hashed out TikTok's fate. Trump, ever the dealmaker, gushed post-call that U.S. investors were "lined up like it's Black Friday" and praised Xi as "a real gentleman." He dodged specifics on algorithm ownership, quipping, "It's all being worked out. We're going to have very good control—believe me."
China's official readout? Muted silence on divestiture details, sticking to boilerplate praise for "candid dialogue" without confirming ByteDance's stake sale.
Leavitt's optimism is palpable: "This deal gets signed in the coming days, mark my words." If inked, it could reshape global tech rivalries, blending Silicon Valley innovation with D.C. oversight while keeping TikTok's For You page firing on all cylinders. Critics, though, warn of loopholes—could Beijing still pull strings through back channels? For now, the app's fate hangs on ink and handshakes, with users holding their breath for the next viral twist.
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