TikTok lives: U.S., China in deal for app to keep operating in U.S.

President Donald Trump on Tuesday announced an agreement between the U.S. and China to keep TikTok operating in the United States, with three sources familiar with the matter saying the deal was similar to one discussed earlier this year. The idea takes a page from a recent national security agreement inked by the Trump administration that allowed Nippon Steel to buy U.S. Steel after allowing the U.S. to name a board member, in addition to having a Golden Share. Any agreement may require approval by the Republican-controlled Congress, which passed a law in 2024 during the Biden Administration that required TikTok's divestiture due to fears that its U.S. user data could be accessed by the Chinese government, allowing Beijing to spy on Americans or conduct influence operations through the app.