President-elect Donald Trump has formally requested the Supreme Court to postpone the TikTok ban set to take effect on January 19, just one day before his inauguration.
The ban, which mandates TikTok’s sale to a non-Chinese owner to avoid restrictions, stems from national security concerns surrounding its parent company, ByteDance. However, ByteDance has made it clear that it is not open to a forced sale.
Trump’s transition team has highlighted the significance of the app for communication and political engagement, with his legal team filing an amicus brief to advocate for the delay.
John Sauer, Trump’s nominee for solicitor general, submitted the brief on Friday, emphasizing TikTok’s role in modern political discourse.
The filing stated, “President Trump is one of the most powerful, prolific, and influential users of social media in history.” Trump currently boasts 14.7 million followers on TikTok, which he used extensively during the presidential campaign to communicate with voters.
“TikTok’s importance as a unique medium for freedom of expression, including core political speech, cannot be understated,” the brief continued. “Indeed, President Trump and his rival both used TikTok to connect with voters during the recent presidential election campaign, with President Trump doing so much more