In a dramatic turn of events, the U.S. Congress voted in April to ban TikTok unless its parent company, ByteDance, divests the app by January 19. With the deadline looming, President-elect Donald Trump has called on the Supreme Court to delay the implementation of the law, arguing that his administration will have time to explore a political resolution after he takes office.
The Supreme Court is scheduled to hear arguments in the case on January 10. If the court does not rule in TikTok’s favor and no sale occurs, the popular social media platform could face an effective ban in the U.S. just one day before Trump’s inauguration.
This marks a surprising shift in Trump’s stance. During his previous presidency in 2020, he sought to block TikTok over national security concerns related to its Chinese ownership and demanded its sale to American companies. Now, his support signals a potential softening in his approach to the app, which boasts over 170 million U.S. users.
TikTok and ByteDance have been actively working to prevent the ban, urging the court to overturn the law mandating divestment or shutdown. The company has also sought to strengthen ties with Trump’s team during the presidential campaign, reflecting a concerted effort to secure its future in the U.S. market.
As the legal battle unfolds, the stakes remain high for TikTok, its users, and the broader tech industry. All eyes will be on the Supreme Court’s decision and whether a resolution can be reached before the impending deadline.
