Trump asks US Supreme Court to delay TikTok ban while working on political resolution

President-elect Donald Trump has asked the US Supreme Court to delay a potential TikTok ban while he seeks a "political resolution." 

On Friday, Trump's lawyer filed a legal brief stating that the president-elect opposes the ban and wants the opportunity to address the issue through political means after taking office.

The Supreme Court is set to hear arguments on January 10 regarding a US law that mandates TikTok's Chinese parent company, ByteDance, either sell the platform to an American firm or face a ban by January 19—just one day before Trump’s inauguration. 

The law follows US officials’ concerns about TikTok’s alleged ties to the Chinese government, which ByteDance denies. In April, Congress passed legislation, signed by President Joe Biden, requiring the company to divest or face a ban, citing national security and free speech issues.

Both TikTok and ByteDance have filed legal challenges against the law, claiming it violates free speech protections. With no buyers for the app yet, the Supreme Court offers its last chance to prevent the ban. Although the court previously rejected an emergency injunction, it has agreed to hear the case on January 10, just before the deadline.

Trump, who recently met with TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew, stated the case represents a difficult conflict between free speech and national security. While he has not taken a stance on the legal merits, Trump argues that postponing the deadline would allow him to resolve the issue politically. The US Justice Department continues to argue that TikTok poses a national security threat, with several state attorneys general backing the law’s enforcement.