President-elect Donald Trump’s legal team has requested the Supreme Court to delay enforcement of a law that would compel ByteDance, TikTok’s parent company, to sell the app or face a U.S. ban. The ban is set to take effect on January 19, just before Trump’s inauguration. ByteDance is contesting the constitutionality of the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act, with Supreme Court hearings scheduled for January 10.
In their filing, Trump’s lawyers describe the timing of the deadline as disruptive to his ability to oversee U.S. foreign policy. While the filing doesn’t outline Trump’s exact strategy, it highlights his negotiation skills and political determination to address national security concerns while preserving the platform. Trump, with 14.7 million TikTok followers, views the app as a vital tool for political expression.
Supporters of the law argue TikTok poses security risks, claiming it could be exploited by the Chinese government for data collection and propaganda. Meanwhile, organizations like the ACLU and EFF back TikTok’s appeal, asserting the government lacks credible evidence of imminent harm. Trump, who previously sought to ban TikTok, has since expressed support for keeping it operational in the U.S.
