President-elect Trump Meets TikTok CEO Amid Looming Ban Deadline

US President-elect Donald Trump held a meeting with TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew on Monday, as the social media platform contests efforts by US authorities to prohibit its operation. The encounter occurred at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida, as reported by CBS News, the BBC’s US partner, citing sources familiar with the discussion. A legislative measure enacted earlier this year mandates that TikTok must be divested by its Chinese parent company, ByteDance, prior to 19 January, or face a ban. The company has since filed an urgent request with the US Supreme Court, seeking a postponement of this prohibition. The United States’ desire for TikTok to be sold or banned stems from purported connections between ByteDance and the Chinese government, allegations that both TikTok and ByteDance have consistently refuted. The legislation’s introductory text specified its purpose was to “protect the national security of the United States from the threat posed by foreign adversary controlled applications”. Mr. Trump has expressed opposition to the ban, a stance that contrasts with his support for a similar measure during his initial term. His current objection is partly based on the belief that such a ban might benefit Facebook, a platform he has previously blamed for contributing to his defeat in the 2020 election. Nevertheless, Trump’s second presidential term is scheduled to commence with his inauguration on 20 January, which is one day after the legal deadline. In its submission to the Supreme Court, filed on Monday, TikTok requested a “modest delay” in the implementation of the ban. This delay, the company stated, would “create breathing room” for the Court to conduct a review and enable the forthcoming administration to “evaluate this matter”. The platform characterized itself as “one of the most significant speech platforms” within the US, asserting that the ban would inflict “immediate irreparable harm” upon both the company and its user base. Earlier in the current month, the federal appeals court dismissed the company’s attempt to reverse the ban. The court determined that the legislation represented the “culmination of extensive, bipartisan action by the Congress and by successive presidents”. During a press conference held on Monday, Trump indicated that his administration intended to “take a look at TikTok”. He remarked, “I have a warm spot in my heart for TikTok, because I won youth by 34 points.” He further added, “There are those that say that TikTok has something to do with that. TikTok had an impact.” While most voters aged 18 to 29 supported Trump’s Democratic rival, Kamala Harris, in November, the election results did show a notable shift in support for Trump among younger demographics compared to the 2020 election. Trump had only joined TikTok in June but amassed millions of followers on the platform throughout his campaign. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC disclaims responsibility for the content found on external websites. Information regarding its policy on external linking is available.