According to a report by The Information citing unnamed sources, popular video-sharing platform TikTok is developing a separate version of its app for U.S. users in preparation for a potential sale to a group of investors. The move comes as U.S. President Donald Trump announced on Friday that he would begin discussions with China on Monday or Tuesday regarding the possible TikTok deal. He stated that the United States “pretty much” has an agreement in place for the sale of the short-video app. TikTok has developed a plan to launch the new app to US app stores on September 5, the report said. Last month, Trump extended to September 17 a deadline for China-based ByteDance to divest the US assets of TikTok. The report added that TikTok users will eventually have to download the new app to be able to continue using the service, although the existing app will work until March of next year, though the timeline could change. TikTok did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment. Reuters could not immediately confirm the report. A deal had been in the works earlier this year to spin off TikTok’s US operations into a new US-based firm, majority-owned and operated by US investors. That was put on hold after China indicated it would not approve it following Trump’s announcements of steep tariffs on Chinese goods. Trump said the United States will probably have to get a deal approved by China.
TikTok developing new app version ahead of anticipated U.S. divestment
