United States: US President-elect Donald Trump has requested that the US Supreme Court delay a proposed TikTok ban, as he works toward a “political resolution” after taking office. In a legal brief filed, Trump’s lawyer argued that the former president resists the ban and should be allowed to resolve the matter through political means rather than legal battles.
The Supreme Court is set to hear arguments on January 10 regarding a US law requiring TikTok’s Chinese parent company, ByteDance, to sell the app to an American company or face a ban by January 19, one day before Trump’s inauguration. The law, passed in April, was part of broader concerns about TikTok’s ties to the Chinese government, which both the app and ByteDance declined.
While TikTok and ByteDance have made several legal tries to block the law, arguing it threatens free speech protections, their efforts have largely been unsuccessful. The companies now look to the Supreme Court for a final chance to question the law.
Trump, in his filing, emphasised the “unprecedented” nature of the case, underscoring the tension between free speech and national security concerns. Although he refrained from taking a stance on the merits of the case, Trump argued that postponing the January 19 deadline would allow him to seek a political solution once in office.
The US Department of Justice has raised considerations about TikTok’s alleged ties to the Chinese government, arguing that the app poses a national security threat. Several state attorney generals, including Montana’s Austin Knudsen, have also called on the Supreme Court to uphold the law, citing security concerns.
Despite supporting a ban during his first term, Trump has publicly opposed the current proposal. He has expressed admiration for TikTok, proclaiming it helped him win the youth vote by 34 points, although exit polls showed most young voters reinforced his opponent, Kamala Harris. The Supreme Court is expected to hear the case just days before the potential ban is set to take effect.
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