September 18, 2025
President Trump talked about the future of TikTok and said something new about it. I’m going to play the whole thing for you — and then we’re going to talk about it on the other side.
Ok – so the question was about the TikTok algorithm. Which is a legitimate question. Trump did not answer it at all and went on several other tangents. But the question about the algorithm actually *the* question when it comes to the future of TikTok. As I have been reporting – years ago China put algorithms developed in their country on an export control list. That means algorithms specifically cannot leave China for any reason without the approval of the Chinese government. Without the algorithm it will be next to impossible to replicate what we know as TikTok even if the app is sold. The algorithm is what makes TikTok different form all the other social media platforms. In fact, all of them have been trying to replicate the TikTok’s algorithm for years but have so far been unsuccessful. So that leads me back to the question – if trump is successful in brokering some kind of deal with the Chinese to approve the sale of TikTok to some American investors and companies, will the algorithm come with it. Clearly – no one knows the answer to that. Including trump. But he does acknowledge that China has to sign off on this – that’s what he really means when he says he’s doing it in “conjunction” with China.
The other thing I want to point out in trump’s statement is something new he said about TikTok. He said something about China giving the United States a “tremendous fee plus” just to make this deal. So Trump is suggesting that China not only has to agree to sell one of their most popular and valuable global assets but on top of that – they have to pay the United States government a fee to sell their own asset that the US government is forcing them to sell because of a law passed by congress? Now that’s definitely new and also a little confusing. Why would the Chinese pay the United States government a fee because of a law passed by the United States government that forces the Chinese to sell? I have no idea what that means or how it would work or what the president is even talking about. Or where that fee is going. Speaking of that fee – trump said repeatedly that if he can get this deal done “very rich” companies and investors who love America are going to be purchasing TikTok. He said instead of letting TikTok die in the United States because of the protecting Americans from foreign adversary controlled applications act – he’d “rather reap the benefits”. I’m not sure that benefits he’s reaping? If it’s this fee plus or if it’s something else.
We know that trump already extended the implementation of the TikTok ban through December 16th but hopefully we’ll know more after tomorrow’s meeting with China’s president.
Watch Trump’s press conference here.
