Trump's evolving China rhetoric raises eyebrows over TikTok strategy amid scorching election meddling warning

This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. ©2026 FOX News Network, LLC. All rights reserved. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. Market data provided by Factset. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. Legal Statement. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by LSEG. President Donald Trump alleges intelligence officials concealed reports on China’s election activity. President Donald Trump is striking a noticeably softer tone toward China just days after delivering a public address to the nation accusing Beijing of "sinister election meddling." The fresh set of accusations levied on July 16 raised new questions about the Trump administration's posture towards China, especially as it moves to keep TikTok operating in the U.S. while warning against the hostility of the world power against America. "President Trump just told the nation that China tried to influence the 2020 election and weaken his presidency. During that same year, the intelligence community identified TikTok as a primary vector of CCP influence in the United States," Hudson Institute Senior Fellow Michael Sobolik, who specializes in U.S.–China rela