Earlier this year, bipartisan legislation was passed by Congress and signed by President Joe Biden, mandating TikTok’s Beijing-based parent company, ByteDance, to sell the app. The legislation stipulates that if ByteDance fails to comply with the sale requirement, TikTok would be prohibited from being available on U.S. stores and web hosting platforms. TikTok sought relief from the Supreme Court to halt the enforcement of this mandate while presenting arguments against the constitutionality of the law. The Supreme Court announced that a decision on the Jan. 19 deadline would be deferred until after oral arguments scheduled for Jan. 10, where the merits of the law would be debated.
Former President Trump attempted to ban TikTok during his first term in office but made a campaign promise during the 2024 presidential election to “save TikTok,” highlighting its significance in engaging young voters. Trump’s legal team emphasized his role as a prominent user of social media, including TikTok, to evaluate the platform’s importance in facilitating freedom of expression, particularly political speech. Trump’s recent venture into launching his social media platform, Truth Social, further underscores his interest in diverse mediums for communication.
The question of whether the Supreme Court will intervene to safeguard TikTok remains unanswered, setting the stage for a pivotal legal showdown. The brief submitted by Trump’s lawyers underscores his substantial influence in the realm of social media and the evolving landscape of digital communication. Despite his reputation for negotiation prowess, President-elect Trump encountered obstacles within his party during a recent government funding debate. An initial short-term spending deal proposed by Trump faced resistance, leading to a lack of Republican backing for legislation aimed at maintaining government operations through March and adjusting the federal debt cap. Subsequently, a bipartisan bill primarily supported by Democrats was passed in the House to avert a government shutdown.
