Donald Trump has requested that the U.S. Supreme Court delay a legislative deadline that would require the sale or ban of TikTok in the U.S. until after he takes office as president next month. This request is aimed at allowing for a “political resolution” once he is sworn in.
The legislation, passed by Congress in April, mandates that Chinese parent company ByteDance must divest TikTok by January 19, 2025—the day before Trump’s inauguration—or face a nationwide ban. The law was passed in response to concerns raised by U.S. officials who argued that TikTok could pose national security risks, as ByteDance could be forced to share the personal data of the 170 million Americans using the app with the Chinese government under Chinese law.
In his brief filed on Friday, Trump asked the Supreme Court to pause the deadline while the court considers the merits of the case. This would give his administration the chance to work out a “political resolution” on the matter. During his re-election campaign, Trump opposed banning TikTok, pledging to “save” the app.
This request marks a shift from Trump’s 2020 stance, when, as president, he issued an executive order to block TikTok in the U.S. and demanded that ByteDance sell its American assets and dispose of the data TikTok had collected. That order was blocked by the courts and later rescinded by President Joe Biden, who signed the law that is central to the current case.
Trump’s brief emphasized that he possesses the necessary political will, dealmaking ability, and mandate to negotiate a resolution that would address the national security concerns raised by the government, a stance he has previously acknowledged. The filing also stated that Trump is not taking a position on the fundamental legal issues in the case.
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TikTok has not responded to the request for comment.
Trump’s intervention in the case places him in the midst of an ongoing legal battle that will determine the future of the popular app in the U.S. The Supreme Court has scheduled oral arguments for January 10.
This brief comes after the court agreed to hear TikTok’s appeal of a lower-court ruling that dismissed its challenge to the law. Additionally, the court will consider TikTok’s request to suspend the law while the legal proceedings continue. Earlier this month, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit upheld the law, rejecting TikTok’s argument that it was unconstitutional and violated First Amendment protections on free speech.