This was an unexpected move.
President-elect Donald Trump is firmly standing by his support for TikTok as the popular app faces an impending showdown with the Supreme Court next week. As the app continues to battle against a potential ban in the United States, Trump has made it clear that he believes TikTok’s value far outweighs any national security concerns raised by critics.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump asked, “Why would I want to get rid of TikTok?” His statement was accompanied by impressive statistics from his own TikTok presence, where his personal account has amassed 1.4 billion total views, with an average of 24 million views per post. His campaign account, @teamtrump, has fared even better, drawing in a staggering 2.4 billion total views, and averaging 6 million views per post. The contrast with Instagram, where his campaign account has far fewer views, underscores the platform’s significance in his communication strategy.
During his campaign, Trump made it clear he intended to “save TikTok,” which has become a valuable tool for political engagement, especially among younger audiences. As the January 19 deadline for TikTok’s potential ban approaches, Trump is pushing back against a law requiring its China-based parent company, ByteDance, to divest from the app or face a shutdown in the U.S. App stores.
Trump’s legal team has asked the Supreme Court to delay the implementation of the law, arguing that he could negotiate a resolution that addresses both national security concerns and the app’s continued operation. Trump’s personal attorney, D. John Sauer, emphasized that the president-elect has the “deal-making expertise” necessary to resolve the issue, suggesting he could broker an agreement without the Court’s involvement.
The case has garnered significant attention, especially after a federal appeals court rejected TikTok’s claim that the law infringes upon its First Amendment rights. The D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the law, citing national security risks tied to the app’s ties with China. Now, the Supreme Court will hear arguments on January 10, with the potential for a ruling before the January 19 deadline.
With bipartisan support for the law in Congress and President Biden’s backing, the outcome of this case could have wide-ranging implications for the future of social media platforms in the U.S. However, Trump’s stance is clear: he’s not ready to let go of a platform that has been instrumental in his digital outreach and political messaging. As the case unfolds, Republicans will be closely watching how the Supreme Court handles this critical intersection of technology, security, and free speech.