TikTok Reaches Deal for US Joint Venture to Avoid Ban
Is the TikTok deal a win for America or a complete victory for China's ByteDance?
Above: A person holds a smartphone displaying the TikTok logo in Chongqing, on Jan. 23. Image credit: Cheng Xin/Getty Images
The Spin
Pro-Trump narrative
The TikTok deal is a massive win for American interests, transferring ownership to great American patriots and investors while securing the platform that helped connect with young voters. This beautiful conclusion preserves an important voice for Americans and demonstrates effective dealmaking that brought China to the table.
Anti-Trump narrative
The TikTok deal is actually a complete victory for ByteDance, allowing China to keep control of the algorithm and technology while only surrendering content moderation. Instead of forcing a real divestment, this franchise-style arrangement removed political constraints from a Chinese tech champion at the exact moment it's outpacing Meta and investing billions in AI.
