28. December 2024
Trump Takes Historic Step In Saving Tiktok From Us Ban

President-elect Donald Trump has filed an amicus brief with the Supreme Court, seeking to allow himself the opportunity to negotiate a deal to save TikTok from an impending US ban. The request comes as the court agreed to hear arguments on a bill passed by Congress that bans TikTok on national security grounds, citing concerns about its Chinese ownership.
Trump’s filing argues that he has the unique expertise and authority to resolve the issues surrounding TikTok through diplomatic means, rather than relying solely on the court’s decision. He claims to possess “the consummate dealmaking expertise, the electoral mandate, and the political will” to negotiate a resolution that would ensure TikTok is not fully controlled by its Chinese parent company, ByteDance.
The deadline for the Supreme Court’s determination on this matter is set for January 19th, just one day before Trump’s inauguration. However, Trump is seeking to stay this deadline, arguing that any deal he negotiates would render the court’s decision unnecessary and premature.
While the specifics of the proposed deal remain unclear, it is likely to involve ByteDance selling a significant portion of its ownership in TikTok to an American company. Trump’s motivations for saving TikTok are complex, but they appear to be rooted in his desire to protect freedom of expression on social media platforms.
Trump has previously pushed for a ban on TikTok during his first term, but he seems to have reversed his stance after realizing the platform’s popularity among his supporters. In recent days, he has met with TikTok CEO Shou Chew and expressed openness to keeping the app around for the time being.
The case is being closely watched as a precedent for how social media platforms will be treated in the US. Brazil’s temporary ban of Elon Musk’s X has already raised concerns about the potential risks of government censorship on online speech. As Trump seeks to negotiate a deal that would protect TikTok, he is also highlighting his own experience with the platform and its importance as a tool for free expression – including core political speech.
The Supreme Court’s decision on this matter will have significant implications for social media platforms and freedom of expression in the US, particularly given Brazil’s recent ban of Elon Musk’s X, which has raised concerns about government censorship on online speech.