LONDON, Sept 18 (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump

on Thursday said the United States was close to a deal with

China to transfer ownership of social media platform TikTok to

U.S. companies, but might extend a deadline for the divestiture

of Chinese ownership.

"We're pretty close to a deal. We may do an extension with

China but it's an extension based on the same terms that we have

right now, which are pretty good terms," Trump said during a

news conference with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer.

Trump said he would discuss TikTok with Chinese President Xi

Jinping on Friday. He signed an executive order on Tuesday

delaying enforcement of a 2024 law requiring divestiture of

Chinese ownership of TikTok until December 16.