David Bridges
With just 22 days left until TikTok faces an effective ban in the United States, President-elect Donald Trump appears determined to fulfill his campaign promise aimed at preserving the popular social media platform.
At the very least, he seeks a chance to negotiate an alternative resolution that would allow the app to remain accessible to American users, who total around 170 million.
Today, the Trump transition team has officially submitted an amicus brief to the Supreme Court, advocating for a temporary pause on the enforcement of the ban, allowing Trump to leverage his well-known “deal-making expertise” to broker an agreement that satisfies all parties involved.
According to the brief:
“Through his historic victory on November 5, 2024, President Trump secured a powerful electoral mandate from American voters to uphold the free speech rights of all citizens – including the vast community of 170 million TikTok users. President Trump is uniquely qualified to advocate for these interests, as “the President and the Vice President of the United States are the only elected officials who represent all voters across the nation.”
Additionally, the brief emphasizes that Trump is “one of the most powerful, prolific, and influential users of social media in history,” positioning him to personally assess both the value and potential threats posed by TikTok.
“Given his commanding presence in this realm, President Trump currently boasts 14.7 million followers on TikTok, through which he actively engages with his audience, enabling him to evaluate TikTok’s significance as a unique platform for freedom of expression, including essential political discourse.”
Unlike ordinary users, Trump possesses insights into how such platforms can be leveraged for influence operations. This understanding, along with classified briefings from cybersecurity officials, initially compelled many U.S. senators to support the TikTok sell-off bill.
However, Trump asserts that he has a unique understanding of the app, having previously noted that he enjoys TikTok now because he has become a “big star” on the platform. This perspective marks a significant shift from his earlier push in 2020, which aimed to force a sale of the app. It’s evident that Trump often aligns his strategies with his personal interests.
Consequently, Trump is currently pursuing an extension of the deadline to facilitate a new deal concerning TikTok.
Back in 2020, during his initial call for a TikTok sell-off—ostensibly in retaliation against China for COVID-19—he ultimately agreed to a deal that would transfer the app to an Oracle/Walmart consortium, a decision that notably benefited his associate, Oracle chief Larry Ellison.
It’s possible that Trump may choose to revisit such an arrangement, which was nearly finalized before the Biden administration reassessed its strategy. This reassessment allowed TikTok to continue operating under Chinese ownership; however, with Trump potentially back in power, there may be an opportunity to revive this deal, possibly saving the app from the impending ban.
Alternatively, Trump may have a different strategy in mind, but the looming deadline means that TikTok could be forced out of the U.S. before his inauguration, significantly limiting Trump’s ability to negotiate a viable alternative.
The Supreme Court is set to hear TikTok’s final appeal against the government’s sell-off mandate on January 10th. If the Court approves Trump’s request, the app may remain accessible to Americans for at least a little while longer.
Perhaps Trump can indeed save TikTok. While specific details remain unclear regarding how he and his team plan to achieve this, it is evident that he is eager to halt the bill’s implementation, potentially offering a lifeline to the platform’s 170 million users across the U.S.
Maya Kensington
Sophie Langley
