Washington: Trump’s Position on TikTok’s Future
US President-elect Donald Trump has urged the Supreme Court to delay the implementation of a law that could either ban the popular social media app TikTok or force its sale. Trump argued that he should be given time after taking office to pursue a “political resolution” to the issue.
TikTok’s Potential Ban
The law would require TikTok’s Chinese owner, ByteDance, to sell the app to an American company or face a ban. The US Congress passed the law in April, stipulating that if ByteDance doesn’t sell the app by January 19, TikTok would be banned.
Trump’s Reversal from 2020 Stance
Trump’s support for TikTok marks a reversal from his stance in 2020 when he attempted to ban the app in the US and force its sale due to its Chinese ownership. Now, his team and TikTok have signaled a potential effort to keep the app operational in the US for a while longer.
Trump’s New Stance and Meeting with CEO
Trump met with TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew in December and expressed a “warm spot” for the app, stating his preference for TikTok to continue operating in the US. TikTok has rejected the US government’s position that its Chinese ties pose a security threat, claiming that its content is stored in the US and moderated by US-based teams.
State and Legal Responses
The US Justice Department has argued that Chinese ownership of TikTok poses an ongoing national security threat, a stance supported by most US lawmakers. Additionally, Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen led a coalition of 22 attorneys general in filing an amicus brief requesting the Supreme Court to uphold the divest-or-ban legislation against TikTok.
