Trump Asks Supreme Court to Delay TikTok Ban

In a surprising move, outgoing President Donald Trump has asked the Supreme Court to hit the pause button on a law that could potentially shut down the popular app TikTok. This comes as his administration seeks a negotiated solution to address national security concerns while keeping the app available to millions of American users. The law, passed by Congress last year, pressures TikTok's Chinese parent company, ByteDance, to sell the app or face restrictions in the U. S. TikTok has already challenged this law, and the Supreme Court has agreed to hear the case on an expedited schedule. The app faces a ban on January 19 unless the law is suspended.

Trump's legal team argues that this law might interfere with the executive branch's powers under the Constitution. They point out that the law specifically targets TikTok and limits the President's discretion in handling other social media platforms. Additionally, they warn about the risk of setting a global precedent for shutting down social media platforms over speech concerns. In his first term, Trump attempted to force a TikTok sale through an executive order, but this effort was unsuccessful in courts. This year, he has been opposed to similar legislation, even commending TikTok for its role in his reelection campaign. The Supreme Court is set to hear oral arguments on January 10, with opening briefs due today.

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