High-Stakes Meeting at Mar-a-Lago
Trump meets TikTok CEO Shou Chew at Mar-a-Lago resort on Monday, according to sources familiar with the matter. This marks their first official meeting since Trump’s election victory in November. The discussion comes at a critical time as TikTok faces a looming federal ban unless its Chinese parent company, ByteDance, sells the platform to a non-Chinese owner.
Chew, spotted earlier this month at Trump’s Florida estate, has been actively pursuing a meeting with Trump since the election. The session is part of Trump’s ongoing engagements with top executives from major U.S. tech companies. Meanwhile, TikTok is urgently seeking relief from the Supreme Court over legislation mandating the app’s sale or ban by January 19. Failure to comply could lead to fines for U.S. app stores and internet providers hosting TikTok.
During a press conference on Monday, Trump hinted at a possible alternative approach to addressing TikTok’s future but offered no specifics. He also acknowledged TikTok’s role in his appeal to younger voters, saying, “I have a warm spot in my heart for TikTok because I won youth by 34 points.” However, exit polls suggest he lost the 18-29 age group to Vice President Kamala Harris by 11 points.
TikTok Appeals to Supreme Court
Trump meets TikTok CEO as TikTok urges the Supreme Court to freeze the law requiring its sale, emphasizing concerns about First Amendment rights and the platform’s users. Congress passed the legislation earlier this year with bipartisan support, citing national security risks stemming from Chinese ownership. President Biden signed it into law in April.
The company’s emergency appeal argues the ban would silence millions of Americans who rely on TikTok for political, artistic, and commercial expression. TikTok’s attorneys are pushing for the Supreme Court to block the law before January 6, allowing the platform time to coordinate shutdown efforts if necessary. Additionally, they suggest the Court could hear their case without further filings.
The D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals unanimously upheld the ban earlier this month, agreeing the government has a legitimate national security interest in regulating TikTok. TikTok’s legal team is now relying on the Supreme Court to delay enforcement while the case unfolds. If the justices do not intervene, the ban will take effect just one day before Trump’s inauguration.
Free Speech, National Security, and the Courts
TikTok’s battle raises key questions about national security and First Amendment protections. The Supreme Court has increasingly taken on cases involving social media platforms and free speech in recent years. Notably, a July decision reaffirmed that platforms’ editorial decisions enjoy certain constitutional protections. Justice Elena Kagan, writing for the Court, emphasized that laws curtailing these choices must meet strict scrutiny under the First Amendment.
Despite these protections, the D.C. Circuit Court ruled the TikTok ban constitutional, citing overriding national security concerns. TikTok attorneys, however, argue the law is premature, pointing to Trump’s recent statements expressing support for the app and urging the Supreme Court to consider the incoming administration’s stance.
Trump meets TikTok CEO as the January 19 deadline approaches, the outcome of TikTok’s Supreme Court appeal could have far-reaching implications for free speech, platform regulation, and U.S.-China relations. The high court’s decision on whether to intervene is expected in the coming weeks.
