In a surprising turn of events, U.S. President-elect Donald Trump suggested that TikTok may continue to operate in the United States for the foreseeable future. Speaking at an event hosted by Turning Point USA in Phoenix, Arizona, Trump highlighted the platform's role in engaging voters, noting the app's billions of views during his campaign.
\"We did go on TikTok, and we had a great response with billions and billions of views,\" Trump told the audience. \"Maybe we gotta keep this sucker around for a little while.\"
The remarks come amid a heated legal showdown as the U.S. Supreme Court has agreed to review TikTok and ByteDance's request to block a law mandating the sale of TikTok by January 19, or face a national security ban. The law, enacted in April by President Joe Biden, grants ByteDance 270 days to comply, citing national security concerns.
TikTok has persistently sought to prevent the ban, arguing that it would silence a vital platform for American speech and commerce. Despite TikTok's efforts, the U.S. Court of Appeals dismissed its claims in early December, and the Supreme Court will hear arguments on January 10 regarding the constitutionality of the law.
As the legal battle continues, Trump's latest comments suggest a possible shift in the app's future in the U.S., leaving many to watch closely how this unfolds in the lead-up to the presidential inauguration.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
