Donald Trump met with TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew on Monday at Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, Florida, to discuss the app’s potential ban in the United States, according to reports from NBC News. This meeting comes amid TikTok’s ongoing fight against a federal law signed earlier this year by President Joe Biden, which mandates the app’s Chinese parent company, ByteDance, to divest its ownership by January 19, or face a nationwide ban.
In the days leading up to the meeting, Trump expressed a surprisingly sympathetic stance toward the platform, saying he has a “warm spot” for TikTok and promised to “take a look” at the looming prohibition. Trump’s softer tone marks a notable shift from 2020, when as president, he attempted to ban TikTok, citing national security concerns—efforts that were ultimately blocked by federal courts.
If Trump intervenes or attempts to ease pressure on TikTok, it could create friction within his own party, as many Republican lawmakers—alongside some Democrats—support the ban, arguing the app poses a significant national security threat and is an unchecked tool for Chinese surveillance.
Meanwhile, TikTok has escalated its legal battle by appealing directly to the Supreme Court, arguing that banning the app would violate Americans’ free speech rights. In its appeal, the company stated: “The Act will shutter one of America’s most popular speech platforms the day before a presidential inauguration. This, in turn, will silence the speech of Applicants and the many Americans who use the platform to communicate about politics, commerce, arts, and other matters of public concern.”
With federal courts largely upholding the ban, TikTok’s only path to a reprieve before the January 19 deadline is through President Biden, who could extend a 90-day deadline. However, if Biden allows the ban to proceed, the responsibility of enforcing or reversing it would fall on Trump, who is set to take office the day after the deadline.
Trump attributed part of his 2024 electoral success to TikTok, specifically his overwhelming support among young voters, claiming he won the “youth by 34 points”. While some of his supporters were surprised by his softened stance, others—like Jeff Yass, a significant TikTok investor and Republican megadonor—have welcomed Trump’s reversal.
As the January deadline approaches, TikTok’s fate remains uncertain, hinging on the Supreme Court’s decision or potential intervention from Biden before Trump assumes office.
