U.S. President-elect Donald Trump has urged the Supreme Court to delay the enforcement of a TikTok ban, aiming to create an opportunity for a negotiated resolution, according to a legal document filed on Friday.
The document, submitted by John Sauer, Trump’s nominee for Solicitor General, highlights Trump’s opposition to the immediate removal of TikTok from U.S. app stores. Sauer noted that Trump seeks to address national security concerns through political negotiations, preserving the platform while ensuring it adheres to U.S. security requirements.
In April, President Joe Biden signed a law requiring ByteDance, TikTok’s parent company, to sell the app within 270 days due to alleged national security risks. If the deadline is missed, major app store operators like Apple and Google would be obligated to remove TikTok from their platforms. Critics, however, have labeled these concerns as unfounded, with ByteDance challenging the ban in court.
TikTok and ByteDance previously appealed to the Supreme Court, requesting a pause on the law’s enforcement. They argued that banning TikTok would stifle free speech on a platform used by millions for political discourse, commerce, and cultural expression. In December, the U.S. Court of Appeals dismissed TikTok’s claim that the ban was unconstitutional, leading to heightened legal battles.
Trump, known for his negotiation skills, has expressed optimism about reaching a compromise that satisfies both U.S. security interests and the app’s continued operation. At a recent event hosted by Turning Point USA in Arizona, Trump hinted at TikTok’s role in reaching voters during the election and suggested the platform could be retained, at least temporarily.
The Supreme Court has since agreed to review TikTok and ByteDance’s request to block the law. This case marks a critical juncture in balancing national security concerns, economic interests, and th