Trump supports TikTok’s US operation amid concerns

President-elect Donald Trump stated on Sunday that he supports allowing TikTok to continue operating in the United States for the time being.

During a rally in Phoenix, Arizona, he highlighted the significant engagement he received on TikTok during his presidential campaign.

This suggests a shift in his stance against a potential TikTok exit from the US market.

In April, the US Senate passed a law requiring TikTok’s parent company, ByteDance, to divest the app due to national security concerns.

TikTok’s owners are seeking to challenge this law, which is set to be reviewed by the US Supreme Court.

A failure to overturn the divestment order could lead to a ban on TikTok effective January 19, one day before Trump takes office.

Successful response

Trump expressed his thoughts on the potential divestiture, acknowledging the successful response he received on TikTok.

He mentioned receiving a chart showcasing billions of views and suggested, “Maybe we gotta keep this sucker around for a little while.”

Additionally, Trump met with TikTok’s CEO last week and indicated a positive sentiment towards the app because of its impact on his campaign.

The US Justice Department maintains that TikTok’s Chinese ownership poses national security risks, a view supported by many lawmakers.