TikTok CEO Shou Chew met with President-elect Donald Trump at Mar-a-Lago on Monday just weeks before the popular video app is expected to be banned in the US over national security concerns.
The meeting comes at a critical moment for TikTok, which has filed an emergency appeal with the U.S. Supreme Court to halt the enforcement of a controversial law that would either force the app’s sale to a non-Chinese owner or ban it outright by January 19, 2025. The law, passed by Congress with bipartisan support and signed by President Joe Biden in April, reflects ongoing national security concerns over TikTok’s Chinese parent company, ByteDance.
TikTok’s attorneys argue that the ban violates the First Amendment, stating that it would “shutter one of America’s most popular speech platforms the day before a presidential inauguration.” They have requested that the Supreme Court temporarily block the law, allowing the incoming administration time to reassess its stance.
At a press conference earlier Monday, Trump hinted at a more lenient approach toward TikTok, though he stopped short of revealing specific plans. “You know, I have a warm spot in my heart for TikTok because I won youth by 34 points, and there are those that say that TikTok has something to do with it,” Trump said.
Earlier this month, a federal appeals court unanimously upheld the statute, stating that the government's actions were justified by national security concerns. Due to ByteDance's refusal to sell, TikTok's activities in the United States are currently uncertain.
TikTok’s lawyers argue the ban infringes on free speech and disproportionately affects millions of American users who rely on the platform for communication, commerce, and the arts. They are urging the Supreme Court to intervene by January 6 to clarify before the law takes effect.
As the deadline looms, Trump’s meeting with Chew has added a layer of uncertainty to the app’s future. While TikTok remains one of the most popular platforms in the U.S., its fate now hinges on both the Supreme Court’s decision and the incoming administration’s policy direction.
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