US President-elect Donald Trump has approached the Supreme Court to delay the implementation of a law that mandates the sale of TikTok by its Chinese owner, ByteDance, before January 20, 2025. In a brief filed on Friday, Trump’s legal team urged the court to grant additional time for the matter to be resolved politically once he assumes office.
Trump, who previously sought to ban TikTok during his first term over national security concerns, has since reversed his stance. At a recent press conference, he expressed a newfound support for the app, citing the need for competition against tech giants like Facebook and Instagram. His shift followed a meeting with TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew at his Mar-a-Lago residence earlier this month.
The law in question, signed by President Joe Biden, aims to address concerns that TikTok could be used by the Chinese government for surveillance or propaganda. TikTok has denied these allegations, arguing that the law violates its First Amendment rights. The company’s appeal against the legislation is set for a Supreme Court hearing on January 10.
In his brief, Trump refrained from taking a position on the legal arguments but emphasized the need for a political resolution. Meanwhile, free speech groups, including the ACLU, have joined TikTok in opposing the law, warning of its unprecedented impact on digital expression and access.
