TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew made a direct appeal to President-elect Donald Trump just days before a potential nationwide ban of the popular video-sharing app takes effect in the United States.
In a video message posted on TikTok, Chew praised Trump's understanding of the platform, highlighting that the incoming president's content has generated over 60 billion views. "We are grateful to have the support of a President who truly understands our platform," Chew stated, acknowledging Trump's active presence on TikTok.
The timing of Chew's message comes as TikTok faces a critical deadline. Following the Supreme Court's decision to uphold a law that could force TikTok's shutdown, the app is set to go dark on Sunday, January 19th, unless immediate action is taken. The ban would take effect just one day before Trump's inauguration.
Reports indicate that Chew has already visited Trump at Mar-a-Lago and plans to attend his inauguration, along with other prominent tech industry leaders. The CEO's public outreach appears to be part of a broader strategy to secure TikTok's future in the US market.
Trump has expressed interest in helping TikTok, stating he would make a decision "in the not too distant future." He recently spoke with Chinese President Xi Jinping about TikTok among other matters, describing the conversation as "very good."
The path forward remains unclear, as Trump's options are limited. One potential solution would involve brokering a deal for ByteDance, TikTok's parent company, to sell its stake and comply with US law. Alternatively, Trump could direct his Justice Department not to enforce the ban, though this might not provide sufficient reassurance to key service providers like Apple and Google.
As the deadline approaches, TikTok's fate hangs in the balance, with the platform's continued operation in the US largely dependent on decisions to be made in the early days of Trump's presidency.