US President-elect Donald Trump met with Shou Zi Chew, the CEO of TikTok, on Monday at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida, as the popular social media platform faces a potential ban in the United States. The meeting comes as TikTok, owned by the Chinese company ByteDance, battles a law passed earlier this year requiring the app to be sold or face a ban by January 19.
According to CBS News, the two discussed the looming deadline, with sources confirming the meeting. TikTok has since filed an emergency application with the US Supreme Court, seeking a delay in the enforcement of the ban. The law, designed to protect national security, aims to address concerns about TikTok’s alleged links to the Chinese government, which both the app and its parent company have denied.
The US government has expressed concerns that ByteDance’s connections with the Chinese state could lead to data privacy risks and potential influence over American users. The law was passed with bipartisan support in Congress and has been endorsed by multiple presidential administrations. However, despite his past support for the ban, Trump has voiced opposition to the move, arguing it could benefit Facebook, a platform he has previously accused of playing a role in his 2020 election loss.
Trump, who will take office for a second term on January 20, the day after the deadline, said at a press conference on Monday that his administration would “take a look at TikTok.” He noted that the platform had helped him connect with younger voters, stating, “I have a warm spot in my heart for TikTok, because I won youth by 34 points.” Although the majority of voters aged 18 to 29 supported Vice President Kamala Harris in November, Trump saw a significant shift in support from young voters compared to the 2020 election.
TikTok’s filing to the Supreme Court argued that a delay would allow time for the incoming administration to review the issue and prevent “immediate irreparable harm” to the company and its users. The app has positioned itself as a key platform for free expression in the US, stating that the ban would stifle one of the most significant speech platforms in the country.
Earlier this month, the company’s bid to overturn the ban was rejected by a federal appeals court, which upheld the law as a necessary step to protect national security. TikTok’s request for a delay now rests with the US Supreme Court, with the company pushing for a “modest delay” to allow for further evaluation.
