Scott Bessent just delivered the news TikTok users have been waiting for: China has officially approved a transfer deal for the app, potentially ending an 18-month saga that has kept millions of Americans on edge.
The US Treasury secretary made the announcement after a high-stakes meeting between President Donald Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping in Kuala Lumpur, revealing that the long-awaited resolution may finally be reached.
“In Kuala Lumpur, we finalized the TikTok deal to get approval from China, and I expect that will progress in the coming weeks and months and we will eventually see a resolution,” Scott Bessant told Fox Business Network.
The Treasury secretary’s comments come after months of uncertainty over the future of the popular social media platform in the United States.
The app, owned by Chinese company ByteDance, has been at the center of national security concerns and legislative battles since the Trump administration first targeted it as a potential divestment target.
Bessant’s announcement marks a major breakthrough in U.S.-China relations, with the TikTok transfer deal becoming a key component of broader trade talks between the two superpowers.
The deal will reportedly transfer TikTok’s U.S. operations to new owners, addressing long-standing concerns about data security and foreign influence.
The timing of the announcement is particularly significant, as TikTok faces growing pressure from lawmakers and regulators who have repeatedly warned of the app’s Chinese ownership.
The platform has more than 170 million U.S. users, who have been anxiously watching the unfolding political drama.
While the specific details of the transfer arrangement remain confidential, sources close to the negotiations said the deal represents a compromise that would allow TikTok to continue operating in the U.S. market while addressing national security concerns.
The breakthrough comes after President Trump issued an executive order in September 2025 that supported the planned divestment of TikTok’s U.S. operations, effectively sparing the app from a looming ban. The move comes after 18 months of intense diplomatic and legal wrangling between Washington and Beijing.
For TikTok’s massive U.S. user base, Bessent’s announcement raises hope that their favorite platform will remain available without the threat of ongoing shutdowns.
The app has become a cultural phenomenon, especially among younger people, who use it for entertainment, news and social connection.
The Finance Minister’s optimistic timetable for “the coming weeks and months” suggests that final implementation of the transfer agreement could happen relatively quickly, bringing an end to one of the most contentious tech policy issues in recent years.
As negotiations continue, all eyes will be on how the transfer agreement unfolds and whether it satisfies U.S. security concerns and Chinese commercial interests while keeping TikTok’s millions of users happy.
