TikTok CEO Hints At Cuts as Talks With Trump Team Continue

TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew said in a staff meeting Wednesday evening that he is working closely with the Trump administration to determine the best course of action for the app’s future in the U.S. At the meeting, Chew also discussed another priority: To continue shedding layers and overlapping roles within TikTok.

“We have to review our teams. We have to remove unnecessary layers,” Chew said during the all-hands meeting of TikTok’s Chinese parent company, ByteDance, according to employees who attended. Chew said such efforts were “tough things we have to do,” but will ultimately result in better job security for TikTok employees, because everyone’s work will have “real value,” according to the employees.