Senators Urge Biden to Delay TikTok Ban

Bipartisan Senators Ed Markey and Rand Paul have urged President Biden to extend the January 19 deadline for ByteDance to divest TikTok's U.S. assets by 90 days, due to ongoing legal challenges and concerns over free expression. The Supreme Court is set to hear arguments on January 10 regarding the law mandating this divestiture, which critics liken to a significant threat to national security. While the Biden administration grapples with this issue, TikTok maintains it poses no immediate risk and argues that the law infringes on First Amendment rights. The request comes amid a backdrop of divided opinions among lawmakers, with some, including Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell, opposing any delays. Furthermore, President-elect Donald Trump has unexpectedly expressed support for TikTok, contrasting his previous stance when he attempted to ban it in 2020. As the deadline looms and legal proceedings unfold, the future of TikTok in the U.S. remains uncertain.