So we’re doing this again. Remember when Donald Trump stood in the Oval Office, smiled for the cameras, and announced that he’d personally saved TikTok for America? There was even a signing ceremony, the kind that looks good on TV but doesn’t actually make anything happen. He said Americans should be “thankful” to him for saving the app, which honestly aged about as well as a TikTok trend from 2020.
Turns out that big moment was more photo op than progress, because here we are, still waiting. Despite weeks of “imminent” deal talk, the Chinese government hasn’t approved a single thing. And until Beijing gives the official thumbs-up, the sale can’t go anywhere. No CCP approval, no deal. It’s like waiting for your ex to “officially” untag you before you can move on.
Reuters confirms the deal remains stuck in bureaucratic quicksand.
Earlier this week, U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent sounded pretty upbeat. He told reporters he’d had “positive talks” with Chinese officials and expected an approval once Trump met President Xi Jinping. That meeting happened. There were smiles, handshakes, and the usual “we’re working together” statements.
And then, nothing. We’re still exactly where we started.
China’s statement after the meeting said they would “properly resolve issues related to TikTok.” Sounds polite, but in diplomatic language, that translates to “we’ll see.” Another line mentioned “equality, respect, and mutual benefit,” which is pretty much what every government says when it doesn’t actually want to commit to anything.
So, yeah, a lot of words, not a lot of movement. The TikTok deal is basically that friend who says “on my way” but hasn’t left the house yet.
Here’s the thing, the TikTok situation isn’t just about one app. It’s tangled up in every trade and tariff argument between the U.S. and China. Beijing isn’t exactly thrilled that the U.S. keeps imposing tariffs and trade restrictions on Chinese imports. Those measures push American companies to manufacture domestically, great for campaign slogans, not so great for China’s economy.
So, naturally, China’s waiting to see if the U.S. relaxes its tariffs before saying yes to anything TikTok-related. Basically, it’s political poker. Whoever blinks first loses leverage.
Even though both sides claim progress was made, that “progress” looks suspiciously like waiting for someone else to make the first move.
It’s easy to roll your eyes and think, “Who cares? It’s just an app.” But TikTok’s situation is actually a big deal. For the U.S., it’s about national security and data privacy, the government doesn’t want American user data floating around in Chinese servers. For China, it’s about maintaining control over one of its most successful tech exports.
And then there’s the cultural part. TikTok isn’t just an app, it’s where 170 million Americans spend their evenings instead of watching cable. It drives trends, shapes pop culture, and moves real money through ads, brand deals, and TikTok Shop. If that suddenly disappears, there’s going to be chaos in marketing departments everywhere.
So, what happens now? Keep an eye on three things:
Yes, there was a flashy ceremony. Yes, both sides smiled for the cameras. But the reality? The TikTok U.S. deal is still hanging in midair, waiting for someone, anyone, to actually do something.
Until both governments stop treating this like a chess match, TikTok’s future in America will stay uncertain. It’s wild to think an app built on dance trends and memes could become part of international trade negotiations, but that’s the 2025 energy we’re living in.
So for now, keep scrolling, but maybe save those drafts just in case.
