President-elect Donald Trump has suggested he may permit TikTok to continue operating in the United States “for a little while.”
Speaking at a Turning Point USA event in Phoenix, Arizona, on Sunday, November 22, Trump acknowledged the app’s role in reaching key voters during the presidential election. “We did go on TikTok, and we had a great response. We had billions and billions of views,” he said, referencing data that highlighted his campaign’s engagement on the platform.
This development comes as the US Supreme Court prepares to review a request from TikTok and its parent company, ByteDance, to block a law mandating the app’s sale by January 19 or face a ban on national security grounds. Arguments are set for January 10, with TikTok asserting that the law infringes on First Amendment rights by limiting freedom of speech.
TikTok has argued that banning the platform would silence millions of Americans who use it for political discourse, commerce, and creative expression. The law, enacted in April by President Joe Biden, requires ByteDance to sell TikTok within 270 days or risk its removal from app stores like Apple and Google.
The ban has faced legal challenges and widespread criticism. In May, TikTok filed a lawsuit against the US government to block the law, but in December, the US Court of Appeals dismissed the company’s claim that the ban was unconstitutional.
As the legal battle continues, Trump’s comments suggest a potential shift in approach, highlighting the platform’s influence in political communication.
