Trump Asks Supreme Court to Pause TikTok Ban

Supreme Court Asked to Halt TikTok Sale Mandate

Legal representatives acting on behalf of President-elect Donald Trump have submitted a request to the Supreme Court. This request seeks a temporary suspension of a law compelling ByteDance, TikTok’s parent company, to divest ownership of the short-form video application or face prohibition within the United States.

Impending Ban and Legal Challenge

Should a sale not be completed, the ban is scheduled to become effective within weeks, specifically on January 19th. ByteDance is currently contesting the law’s constitutionality – formally known as the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act – with oral arguments before the Supreme Court slated for January 10th.

Timing Concerns Raised

A recent filing from Trump’s legal team characterizes the ban-or-sell deadline, occurring just prior to his inauguration, as presenting “unfortunate timing.” This timing, they argue, potentially hinders his capacity to effectively manage U.S. foreign policy initiatives.

Trump's Potential Role

The filing refrains from detailing any specific course of action Trump might pursue regarding this matter. However, it asserts that he uniquely possesses the necessary “consummate dealmaking expertise,” the public endorsement through his election, and the requisite political determination to achieve a resolution.

TikTok's Significance to Trump

This resolution, the filing suggests, would both preserve the platform and address the national security concerns articulated by the government. Furthermore, it is noted that Trump currently maintains a substantial following of 14.7 million users on TikTok.

This presence allows him to assess the platform’s value as a distinct channel for free expression, encompassing crucial political discourse.

National Security Concerns and Past Actions

Proponents of the law contend that TikTok poses a national security risk. They believe the Chinese government could potentially leverage the app to gather user data and disseminate propaganda to audiences in the U.S. Notably, Trump previously attempted to ban TikTok during his initial presidential term.

Despite this prior effort, he has recently voiced support for the application. During his campaign for office, he posted on Truth Social, advocating for voters to “VOTE TRUMP!” if they wished to preserve TikTok in America.

Support for TikTok's Appeal

Several organizations dedicated to civil liberties and free speech, including the American Civil Liberties Union and the Electronic Frontier Foundation, have submitted amicus briefs. These briefs support TikTok’s appeal, arguing that “the government has not presented credible evidence of ongoing or imminent harm caused by TikTok.”

These groups maintain that the government’s claims regarding potential harm lack sufficient substantiation.