President-elect Donald Trump has urged the U.S. Supreme Court to delay the implementation of a law that would ban TikTok or force its sale, arguing that there is time to seek a political solution after taking office. The court will hear arguments in the case on Jan. 10, ahead of a Jan. 19 deadline for TikTok’s Chinese owner, ByteDance, to sell the app or face a U.S. ban.
The move is a sharp reversal for Trump, who previously sought to block TikTok in 2020 over national security concerns related to its Chinese ownership. Trump’s legal team stressed that his request does not take a position on the merits of the law but seeks to allow his administration to explore alternatives. Trump has expressed newfound appreciation for TikTok, citing its role in boosting his campaign’s visibility.
TikTok, with more than 170 million users in the United States, continues to challenge the legislation, arguing that its data and operations affecting American users are entirely managed within the country. However, national security concerns persist, with the Justice Department and a coalition of prosecutors urging the Supreme Court to uphold the seizure or ban mandate.
