Trump pushes strategy to delay court’s decision on first amendment issues
Trump wants to save TikTok from US ban. In a bold move to prevent TikTok’s impending shutdown in the United States, President-elect Donald Trump has requested the Supreme Court to grant him negotiating authority over the platform’s fate.
Through an amicus brief submitted to the nation’s highest court, Trump emphasized his unique position to resolve the controversy. His filing declares that upon taking office, he aims to address the matter through diplomatic channels, asserting that he uniquely combines “the consummate dealmaking expertise, the electoral mandate, and the political will” needed to preserve the platform’s presence in America.
The Supreme Court’s recent decision to review the case comes after Congress passed legislation to ban TikTok, citing national security concerns. At issue is whether the ban infringes upon First Amendment rights.
Notably, the legislation includes a provision allowing presidential discretion to postpone the ban’s implementation, provided there’s meaningful progress toward reducing ByteDance’s – TikTok’s Chinese parent company – control over the platform.
The timing presents a critical challenge, as the statutory deadline falls on January 19th – just 24 hours before Trump’s scheduled inauguration.
In documents submitted to the Supreme Court, the President-elect is seeking a suspension of this January 19th deadline. Trump contends that his proposed negotiation strategy would eliminate the need for the Court to rush its decision on the complex First Amendment issues at stake.
