Commentary: TikTok Deal Would Be a Major Win for Trump, But Not in the Way You Might Expect

It's the kind of high-stakes phone call that could make headlines for weeks: U.S. President Donald Trump chatting with Chinese President Xi Jinping on September 19. Trump followed up with a cryptic social media post, thanking China for what he called the 'TikTok approval.' But here's the twist—no official deal has been inked yet, and the ripples extend far beyond the usual national security alarms.

From a Singapore perspective, this unfolding drama feels like a microcosm of the broader US-China tech tensions. TikTok, the wildly popular short-video app owned by ByteDance, has been under fire in the U.S. for fears of data sharing with Beijing. Trump's nod to an 'approval' hints at possible progress, perhaps involving U.S. investors buying a stake to keep the app running stateside. Yet, as Nanyang Technological University's Mark Cenite points out, the real stakes might lie in subtler realms—like how this deal could shape cultural narratives and influence operations on American soil.

Cenite, a media ethics expert, argues that while security concerns dominate the discourse, we shouldn't overlook the app's role in amplifying voices, from conservative firebrands like Charlie Kirk to late-night hosts like Jimmy Kimmel. A deal under Trump's watch could be seen as a diplomatic coup, bolstering his image as a deal-maker. But it also risks entrenching foreign influence in U.S. media spaces, raising questions about free speech and algorithmic biases. As negotiations drag on, one thing's clear: this isn't just about bytes and borders; it's about who controls the conversation in our increasingly connected world.

For the full story, check out the original reporting from Channel News Asia.