Donald Trump, the President-elect, has asked the Supreme Court to delay banning TikTok, which is set to take effect on January 19, one day before his inauguration.
The legal brief emphasized Trump’s unique ability to negotiate, citing his deal-making skills and political influence. It also noted that Trump has acknowledged the government’s national security concerns about TikTok but believes he can address these issues without banning the platform.
The brief referred to Trump as one of the most influential social media users in history, highlighting his nearly 15 million followers on TikTok.
Trump’s request follows a recent meeting with TikTok CEO Shou Chew at Mar-a-Lago. However, the Biden administration continues to push for action against TikTok, citing national security risks.
According to Biden’s team, TikTok collects significant amounts of data from millions of Americans, which could be misused by the Chinese government for espionage, blackmail, or spreading misinformation.
Although Trump once supported banning TikTok, he has softened his stance recently, praising the platform’s role in his campaign success. Speaking at a Turning Point USA event, Trump mentioned seeing impressive statistics on TikTok’s impact, which made him reconsider the ban.
Trump’s opposition to the ban contrasts with his former vice president, Mike Pence. Pence’s conservative advocacy group, Advancing American Freedom, recently submitted a legal brief to the Supreme Court, describing TikTok as “digital fentanyl.” The group accused the Chinese Communist Party of using TikTok as a tool to harm Americans.
With over 170 million Americans using TikTok, the Supreme Court is scheduled to hear arguments on the matter on January 10.
