President Donald Trump has requested the U.S. Supreme Court to extend a deadline set by Congress regarding the future of TikTok, aiming to explore a potential political resolution after he assumes office next month. As per legislation passed in April, the Chinese parent company of TikTok, ByteDance, is required to either sell the app or face a national ban by January 19, 2025, the day before Trump’s inauguration.
The law was introduced due to concerns that TikTok could share user data with the Chinese government, given its obligations under Chinese law. This legislation followed earlier moves by Trump in 2020, when he attempted to ban the app through an executive order, which ultimately was blocked by courts and later rescinded by President Joe Biden.
In his court filing, Trump expressed that he has not taken a definitive stance on the core issues of the case but emphasized his belief in his ability to negotiate a solution that addresses both national security concerns and the continued availability of TikTok in the U.S. The Supreme Court has arranged to hear oral arguments on the matter on January 10.
Recently, a lower court’s ruling was upheld by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, which dismissed TikTok’s claims that the law was unconstitutional and violated First Amendment rights. TikTok has not yet responded to requests for comment regarding the ongoing legal situation.