Trump Seeks Supreme Court Delay on TikTok Ban to Allow Political Resolution

Jan 4, 2025, 10:00 AM

President-elect Donald Trump has requested the U.S. Supreme Court to delay the implementation of a law that would ban TikTok in the U.S. unless its Chinese parent company, ByteDance, divests from the platform by Jan. 19. Trump's request comes as he aims to resolve the issue through political means after his inauguration on Jan. 20. The Justice Department, however, has urged the Supreme Court to reject Trump's request, arguing that TikTok poses a national security threat due to its data collection practices and potential for foreign influence operations. The Supreme Court is set to hear arguments on the case on Jan. 10, just days before the law is scheduled to take effect. TikTok, used by 170 million Americans, has argued that the law infringes on First Amendment rights and could set a dangerous precedent for speech suppression. The platform has also denied any direct influence from the Chinese government on its operations.