TikTok CEO Thanks Trump Amid Supreme Court Ban

In response to the Supreme Court's ruling that upheld a federal law banning TikTok unless its parent company, ByteDance, divests its U.S. operations, TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew publicly thanked President-elect Donald Trump for his potential support. Chew emphasized the importance of TikTok for its 170 million American users and framed the issue as a matter of free speech. He highlighted Trump's significant presence on the platform, noting he generated over 60 billion views. The Supreme Court's decision, which takes effect January 19, has led to uncertainty about TikTok's future in the U.S., especially as Trump considers issuing an executive order to delay the ban. Chew's remarks suggest a hope that Trump will intervene to allow TikTok to remain operational while a sale is negotiated. Despite previous calls for a ban, Trump’s recent engagement with TikTok indicates a shift in his stance towards the app.