TikTok’s future in the United States could soon be decided as President Donald Trump announced that talks with China to force a sale of the app’s American operations are set to begin, claiming the deal is “pretty much done.” The statement comes as a final September deadline nears for TikTok’s Chinese parent company, ByteDance, to divest the app or face a nationwide ban. The high-stakes negotiations that have been going on reflect growing tension between prioritizing the safety and security of American citizens and preserving one of America’s largest social media communities.

The Long Fight Over TikTok

This isn’t Trump’s first attempt to break up TikTok. Back in 2020, he signed an executive order to ban the app unless it was sold to a U.S. company. However, this plan eventually fell apart in court. The issue resurfaced last year when former President Joe Biden signed the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act in April 2024, giving ByteDance until January 2025 to sell or shut down TikTok in the U.S.

After legal fights and political pressure, Trump extended the divestment deadline twice, with the most recent deadline extending to September 17, 2025. Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, Trump said that talks with Beijing will start “this week or next,” adding that “the deal is good for China and it’s good for [U.S.].” 

Who Might Buy TikTok?

So far, no official buyer has been confirmed, but Trump hinted that “very wealthy people” are lined up and ready. Possible bidders include Oracle, which tried to buy TikTok in 2020, and big tech names like Microsoft. Reports also suggest that private investors are exploring consortium bids.

However, the biggest sticking point in this entire sale process is TikTok’s secret recommendation algorithm, which is the powerful code that makes the app’s “For You” page so addictive. China has strict export rules that explicitly block ByteDance from simply handing over that technology without Beijing’s sign-off, and Beijing has refused to do this before.

TikTok’s Back-Up Plan: M2

To solve the problems at hand, TikTok is working on a plan to launch a U.S.-only version called M2, which would run on a separate algorithm trained entirely on American data. The new app could go live as early as September, which is just before the divestment deadline, giving the U.S. more control over user data and security.

In theory, ByteDance could then sell M2’s U.S. business to a local owner while keeping its main global tech in China, which is a workaround designed to satisfy both U.S. national security rules and Chinese export controls.

National Security and Free Speech Clash

Supporters of the forced sale argue that TikTok poses a serious national security risk because of ByteDance’s ties to Beijing. They warn that Chinese authorities could demand access to American user data or manipulate content to sway public opinion.

But critics, including the ACLU, say banning or forcing a sale would violate free speech rights and hurt millions of American creators and small businesses that rely on TikTok every day.

In addition, whether a sale goes through or not, any deal must also pass review by the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS).

What Could Be Next?

ByteDance is also suing the U.S. government to stop the forced divestment, arguing the new law unfairly targets one company and violates the First Amendment. Meanwhile, Trump says he’s willing to personally negotiate with China to finalize the plan.

With a final deadline just two months away, the next few weeks could decide whether TikTok’s U.S. feed stays open, or whether one of America’s biggest social platforms disappears for good.