President-elect Donald Trump has filed a legal request with the U.S. Supreme Court to postpone the implementation of a looming TikTok ban, citing his intention to seek a “political resolution” to the issue.
The request comes ahead of a January 10 hearing that will address the legality of requiring TikTok’s Chinese parent company, ByteDance, to divest its U.S. operations or face a nationwide ban by January 19—just one day before Trump assumes office.
In the legal brief submitted on Friday, Trump’s lawyer stated that he opposes the ban and wishes to resolve the matter through diplomatic means rather than litigation.
This approach contrasts with the hardline stance previously taken by Congress and the Biden administration, which have argued that TikTok poses a national security risk due to alleged links between ByteDance and the Chinese government—a claim the company has consistently denied.
The controversy stems from a bipartisan law signed in April that mandates ByteDance to sell TikTok to a U.S.-based firm or face a ban.
The legislation, fueled by concerns over data security and potential foreign influence, has faced legal challenges from TikTok and ByteDance, which argue that the law violates free speech protections.
Despite their efforts, the companies have seen limited success in court, with their last hope for overturning the ban resting on the Supreme Court.
TikTok’s legal battle gained momentum after a federal appeals court upheld the law earlier this month, describing it as the result of “extensive, bipartisan action by Congress and successive presidents.”
Furthermore, nearly two dozen state attorneys general, led by Montana’s Austin Knudsen, have urged the Supreme Court to enforce the law, emphasizing national security concerns.
Trump’s request to delay the ban appears to stem from both practical and political considerations. In his filing, he described the case as presenting “an unprecedented, novel, and difficult tension” between free speech rights and national security.
He also emphasized that postponing the January 19 deadline would provide him the opportunity to address the issue politically without requiring immediate judicial intervention.
This development comes after Trump’s meeting with TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew at his Mar-a-Lago estate, signaling potential openness to negotiation.
Despite opposing a TikTok ban now, Trump supported a similar move during his first term in office. At a recent press conference, he even credited the platform with aiding his popularity among young voters, though exit polls indicated his opponent, Kamala Harris, garnered the majority of youth support.
As the January 10 Supreme Court hearing approaches, the future of TikTok in the U.S. hangs in the balance. The case underscores broader tensions between technological innovation, free expression, and national security in the context of U.S.-China relations.
Whether Trump’s appeal for a delay will be granted remains uncertain, but the outcome will likely have significant implications for the platform’s 170 million American users.
