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ByteDance to retain 1 of 7 board seats under U.S.-China TikTok deal

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A U.S.-China agreement on the future of TikTok’s U.S. operations will give ByteDance just one of seven board seats, with the other six held by American directors, a senior White House official said on Saturday.

The deal comes after months of tense negotiations to comply with a 2024 U.S. law requiring TikTok’s American assets to be divested from its Chinese parent or face a ban by January 2025. President Donald Trump has repeatedly delayed enforcement, with the latest pause expected to be extended 120 days into April 2025.

Key details of the agreement:

  • Board structure: 7 members, 6 American + 1 ByteDance representative.

  • Data storage: All U.S. user data to be housed on Oracle-run servers inside the U.S.

  • Algorithm control: TikTok’s recommendation algorithm will be secured, retrained, and supervised in the U.S. with American data, outside of ByteDance’s control.

  • Ownership: ByteDance will retain less than 20% of TikTok U.S., while American investors hold a majority stake.

  • Operations: The U.S. entity will be managed domestically by a board with national security and cybersecurity credentials.

Trump has called the deal “well on its way” and credited TikTok for helping his reelection campaign, noting his own 15 million followers on the app. The White House also recently launched an official TikTok account.

However, lawmakers remain skeptical. Rep. Frank Pallone (D) warned:

“We cannot allow China continued access to massive amounts of Americans’ personal data, and we cannot allow Trump to hand TikTok over to his tech bro buddies and turn it into a MAGA mouthpiece.”

Questions also remain over whether the current arrangement qualifies as a “full divestiture” under U.S. law, as required by Congress. Beijing has not confirmed the level of progress, with Chinese statements emphasizing only that business negotiations should respect market rules and domestic laws.

Despite these concerns, the agreement marks a rare breakthrough in U.S.-China relations, with both sides also planning a Trump-Xi summit in South Korea in late October to discuss TikTok, trade, and security issues.

Trump and Xi advance TikTok talks, plan South Korea summit

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U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping said they made progress toward a TikTok deal during their first phone call in three months, and agreed to meet face-to-face on October 31 in Gyeongju, South Korea, at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum.

Trump told reporters Xi had “approved the TikTok deal,” though China’s official statement stopped short, saying only that it respected company negotiations “based on market rules.” A final agreement remains elusive, with disputes over ownership, algorithm control, and congressional approval still unresolved.

Under pressure from Congress, ByteDance must divest TikTok’s U.S. assets by January 2025 or face a nationwide ban. Trump has delayed enforcement, citing concerns about angering TikTok’s 170 million American users and disrupting political communications. He hinted the U.S. may even take a multibillion-dollar broker’s fee for helping facilitate the deal.

The call also touched on trade, fentanyl exports, and the Russia-Ukraine war. Trump said Xi indicated he wanted the conflict “ended,” though no specifics emerged. Meanwhile, Trump’s sweeping tariff hikes against China remain in place, with rates at historic highs despite limited deals earlier this year that paused tit-for-tat escalation.

For Beijing, analysts say the dynamic is favorable: China projects patience while Washington seeks quick wins on TikTok and summit optics. Critics in the U.S. warn that leaving ByteDance’s algorithm under Chinese control could still allow Beijing to influence or surveil Americans. China dismisses those concerns as unfounded.

Both sides confirmed additional leader visits in 2025: Trump to Beijing early next year, and Xi to the U.S. later. But thorny issues — from tariffs to Taiwan and the South China Sea — remain unsettled, ensuring the rivalry continues beneath the cautious diplomatic thaw.

Trump–Xi call breathes life into TikTok U.S. asset sale talks

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A call between U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping has revived hopes for a deal that would see ByteDance divest TikTok’s U.S. assets, though key details remain unsettled.

Trump posted on Truth Social that he appreciated Xi’s “approval of the TikTok deal,” though China’s readout stopped short of endorsing a sale. Beijing instead emphasized respect for market-based negotiations that comply with Chinese law. Analysts said the difference in tone suggests both leaders want to project progress while keeping leverage in ongoing talks.

The tentative breakthrough comes after months of deadlock. Congress mandated ByteDance sell TikTok’s U.S. assets by January 2025 or face a nationwide ban, but Trump has repeatedly extended deadlines, citing TikTok’s popularity with American voters and its political value. The latest extension runs until December 19.

Still, major hurdles remain: the ownership structure, the degree of Chinese control over TikTok’s algorithm, and whether Congress will sign off. Reuters has reported that any U.S. version of TikTok under new ownership would likely continue using ByteDance’s algorithm, a sticking point for lawmakers worried about data security and influence operations.

China blocked a similar deal earlier this year amid trade tensions, and experts say it may do so again if U.S. demands cross Beijing’s red lines. “The contours of the conversation better align with China’s interests than U.S. interests,” said Scott Kennedy of CSIS, noting structural reforms were not on the table.

Wendy Cutler of the Asia Society Policy Institute called the talks “positive and constructive” but stressed that the algorithm question remains unresolved.

For now, the deal remains fragile: Beijing wants to protect its tech assets, Washington wants to claim victory on national security, and Trump is balancing political calculations against congressional pressure. Months of negotiations still lie ahead.