Trump Asks Supreme Court for Power to Save TikTok from US Ban

In a dramatic turn of events, President-elect Donald Trump has reached out to the Supreme Court to request the authority to negotiate a deal aimed at saving TikTok from a looming ban set forth by Congress. According to an amicus brief submitted to the court, Trump asserts that he possesses the necessary deal-making expertise, an electoral mandate, and the political will to address the ongoing concerns surrounding the popular social media platform.

The Supreme Court’s decision to hear arguments regarding a bill that prohibits TikTok based on national security risks has amplified the stakes. This legislation allows the president significant leeway to postpone enforcement measures if it appears that progress is being made toward a resolution that mitigates concerns about TikTok’s Chinese parent company, ByteDance. However, the clock is ticking, with a crucial deadline for action falling on January 19th, merely one day before Trump’s inauguration.

In his legal filing, Trump is advocating for a stay on the January 19th deadline, maintaining that negotiations he plans to undertake could eliminate the necessity for the court to urgently decide a complex First Amendment issue regarding the ban. So far, details regarding the nature of this potential deal remain undisclosed, but it is expected that any resolution would necessitate ByteDance divesting a significant portion of its ownership in TikTok to an American entity.

Highlighting his relevance in the digital space, Trump argues that with over 14 million followers on TikTok and his affiliation with Truth Social, he is uniquely positioned to gauge the platform’s significance as a medium for free expression, including vital political discourse. He further draws parallels with the political ramifications observed from Brazil’s temporary prohibition of Elon Musk’s social media platform, X, which he cites as an alarming precedent for governmental bans on public forums.

Trump’s position regarding TikTok has notably evolved since his previous administration’s aggressive stance advocating for its ban. His campaign successfully utilized the app during the 2024 election cycle, leading to a change of heart. Recently, Trump even convened with TikTok’s CEO, Shou Chew, at his Mar-a-Lago estate, expressing a willingness to reconsider the platform’s future by stating, “maybe we gotta keep this sucker around for a little while.”

Despite Trump’s intentions to negotiate a resolution, there remains considerable political pressure to implement a ban. A coalition of senators and representatives, including prominent figures such as Mitch McConnell and Ro Khanna, submitted petitions on Friday urging the Supreme Court to dismiss TikTok’s appeal, bolstered by endorsements from 22 U.S. states and former FCC Chairman Ajit Pai. As discussions unfold and the deadline approaches, the fate of TikTok hangs in a precarious balance, entwined with the fate of Trump’s political ambitions for his upcoming term in office.