President-elect Donald Trump has urged the US Supreme Court to delay a pending ban on TikTok, emphasizing his desire to pursue a political solution to the ongoing controversy surrounding the popular social media app. In a legal brief filed Friday, Trump’s lawyer stated that the president-elect opposes banning TikTok and seeks an opportunity to resolve the issue through diplomatic means after taking office.
The TikTok ban, set to take effect on January 19, stems from a US law requiring the app’s Chinese parent company, ByteDance, to divest TikTok to an American firm or face restrictions. The Supreme Court is scheduled to hear arguments on January 10, just a day before Trump assumes office, creating a high-stakes timeline for all parties involved.
The controversy centers on allegations that TikTok and ByteDance maintain links to the Chinese government, claims that both entities deny. US lawmakers and officials have expressed concerns that the app poses national security risks, citing fears over potential data misuse and foreign interference. These concerns prompted Congress to pass a bill in April, signed into law by President Joe Biden, which includes the divest-or-ban requirement.
ByteDance and TikTok have filed multiple legal challenges, arguing that the legislation violates American free speech protections. However, their efforts to overturn the law have been largely unsuccessful, leaving the Supreme Court as their last avenue to avoid the ban. In its court filing, TikTok framed the case as a critical test of the balance between free speech rights and national security concerns.
Trump’s filing aligns with this sentiment, stating that the situation represents “an unprecedented, novel, and difficult tension” between constitutional freedoms and foreign policy imperatives. While Trump has not taken a position on the law’s merits, the filing emphasized that delaying the January 19 deadline would allow his administration to seek a diplomatic resolution.
The justice department, however, argues that TikTok’s alleged links to the Chinese government pose an immediate threat to US national security. Nearly two dozen state attorneys general, led by Montana’s Austin Knudsen, have urged the Supreme Court to uphold the law, asserting that it reflects bipartisan action by Congress and successive administrations.
Despite his opposition to a ban, Trump’s stance on TikTok has shifted. During his first term, he supported banning the app. In a December press conference, Trump claimed, “I have a warm spot in my heart for TikTok, because I won youth by 34 points,” though most young voters supported his opponent, Kamala Harris.
The Supreme Court’s January 10 hearing will likely determine the app’s fate, marking a crucial juncture in this ongoing legal and political saga.
