TikTok CEO to attend Trump’s inauguration as platform faces legal uncertainty
TikTok CEO Shou Chew is expected to attend Donald Trump’s inauguration on Monday amid ongoing legal and political debates over the app’s future in the U.S.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump announced plans to issue an executive order delaying the enforcement of a law that bans TikTok unless its Chinese parent company, ByteDance, sells its U.S. operations. The law, upheld by the Supreme Court on Friday, officially took effect on Sunday.
Trump’s stance represents a notable shift. While he previously supported banning TikTok, he has recently expressed appreciation for the platform, citing its role in amplifying his campaign messages.
The Biden administration had already signaled it would not enforce the ban before leaving office, leaving the matter for Trump’s presidency. However, TikTok briefly went offline on Saturday night before quickly restoring access on Sunday.
With millions of American users, TikTok has become a powerful platform for political campaigns, particularly in reaching younger audiences.
Under the law passed in April, the app was set to be removed from app stores and web hosting services unless ByteDance divested its U.S. operations.
The company challenged the law in the Supreme Court, arguing it violated free speech rights, but the court unanimously upheld the legislation.
Trump’s decision to delay the ban has caused division among Republicans. While some, like Senator Tom Cotton, have warned that any company assisting TikTok’s continued operation could face serious legal consequences, others, including Trump’s nominee for Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, have chosen to align with the incoming administration’s position.
Trump has also promised to protect businesses from liability if they continue supporting TikTok. However, legal experts caution that an executive order contradicting the existing law could be challenged in court.
Several states have already taken legal action against the platform, raising the possibility of local bans even if TikTok remains available at the national level.
Although TikTok is currently operational, uncertainty remains over whether hosting services like Google and Apple will reinstate the app, which had been removed from their stores in anticipation of the ban.
The outcome of Trump’s expected executive order will likely determine TikTok’s immediate future in the U.S., but the broader legal and political battles surrounding the platform are far from over.
