Key Points:

• President-elect Donald Trump is seeking to delay a federal ban on TikTok until after his inauguration on January 20.
• The U.S. Department of Justice is urging the Supreme Court to reject Trump's request, citing national security issues.
• The law mandates TikTok’s Chinese parent company, ByteDance, to divest its U.S. assets or face a ban by January 19.

In a pivotal legal battle over popular social media platform TikTok, President-elect Donald Trump is attempting to navigate the murky waters of federal regulations surrounding the app. With the law set to take effect just one day before his inauguration, Trump has asked the Supreme Court to intervene and delay the implementation of a law that would either ban TikTok or force its sale by January 19. This request comes amid bold assertions from Trump on social media regarding his popularity on TikTok, which boasts over 170 million U.S. users.

According to Trump’s legal team, a brief submitted to the Supreme Court requests that the court consider postponing the January divestment deadline to allow the incoming administration to explore a political resolution to the concerns raised about TikTok. Trump's lawyer stated, "President Trump opposes banning TikTok in the United States at this juncture" and expresses a desire to address the matter through political channels once in office.

The Department of Justice (DOJ), however, issued a statement urging the Supreme Court to dismiss Trump’s request, highlighting the risks posed by the app’s ties to China. The DOJ maintains that China's control over TikTok represents a significant national security threat, especially concerning the app's ability to harvest sensitive user data, which it claims could be weaponized for espionage purposes. The DOJ noted, "China seeks to undermine U.S. interests by amassing sensitive data about Americans."

The ongoing legal tussle is set against a backdrop of heightened concerns regarding TikTok’s ownership. Lawmakers from across the aisle have expressed bipartisan fears that the application could pose vast security risks, leading President Joe Biden to sign the controversial law in April. As the Supreme Court prepares to hear arguments on January 10, it remains unclear how the court might rule on the substantial implications of the law and Trump's request.

If upheld, the law would not outright ban the use of TikTok but instead prohibit U.S. app stores from hosting it unless ByteDance divests its American assets. Existing users would still retain access to the application; however, they would be unable to download or update it, ultimately leading to its downfall over time as no support would be available. Notably, TikTok has already filed a lawsuit, claiming that the ban on its operations infringes upon First Amendment rights, pointing out that similar scrutiny has not been applied to other Chinese-owned apps like Shein and Temu.

The deadline imposed by this law poses a significant challenge for Trump, who has publicly shifted his stance on TikTok, having previously sought to block the app in 2020. As the Supreme Court prepares for a crucial hearing, the landscape surrounding TikTok's future in the U.S. hangs in the balance.

As the situation continues to develop, many are watching very closely to see how the Supreme Court will respond to the pressure, particularly as the January 19 deadline looms, making this case a pivotal moment for both Trump’s presidency and social media regulation in America.