President-elect Donald Trump has suggested he may support allowing TikTok to continue operating in the United States, at least temporarily, despite national security concerns that have led to ongoing legal and legislative battles.
Trump made this announcement while speaking at AmericaFest, a conservative gathering in Phoenix, Arizona, he cited the social media platform’s role in his successful presidential campaign as a key factor in his position. His remarks indicate a potential shift in the conversation surrounding TikTok’s future in the U.S.
During his speech, Trump reflected on the significant impact TikTok had on his campaign, sharing that the platform garnered billions of views for his content. “They brought me a chart, and it was a record. It was so beautiful to see,” he told the enthusiastic crowd. “As I looked at it, I said, Maybe we gotta keep this sucker around for a little while.”
These comments are among the strongest indications yet that Trump opposes an outright ban on TikTok, a decision that could shape his administration’s approach to the app’s contentious presence in the United States.
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TikTok, owned by Chinese tech giant ByteDance, has been the center of a fierce debate over national security. In April, the U.S. Senate overwhelmingly passed a law requiring ByteDance to divest TikTok, citing concerns about Chinese government influence over the app’s data and operations.
ByteDance has contested the law, and the case is set to be reviewed by the U.S. Supreme Court. If the court rules against ByteDance and the divestiture is not completed, TikTok could face a nationwide ban starting January 19, just one day before Trump’s inauguration.
Despite the overwhelming Senate support for the divestiture order, Trump’s recent statements leave questions about whether he would attempt to reverse or modify the decision once in office. The mechanics of undoing such an order remain unclear, especially given bipartisan concerns over TikTok’s ties to China.
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The Justice Department and several U.S. lawmakers have argued that TikTok’s Chinese ownership poses a national security threat. They claim that the app could be used to access sensitive data about American users or to influence public opinion.
TikTok, however, has pushed back against these claims, emphasizing that its data infrastructure and content moderation for U.S. users are based in the United States. The company says user data is stored on Oracle-operated cloud servers in the U.S., and decisions about content moderation are made domestically.
On Monday, Trump met with TikTok’s CEO, describing the discussion as positive. In a press conference following the meeting, he acknowledged having a “warm spot” for the platform due to its campaign benefits. His openness to TikTok’s continued operation contrasts sharply with the Justice Department’s and many lawmakers’ firm stance on the app’s national security risks.
As the Supreme Court prepares to hear the case, TikTok’s future in the United States remains uncertain. If ByteDance loses and divestiture does not occur, the app could face a ban that would upend the platform’s massive American user base, particularly among younger demographics.
Trump’s comments suggest that his administration may take a more nuanced approach, balancing national security concerns with the app’s popularity and utility. Whether this will translate into a concrete policy shift or a temporary reprieve for TikTok is yet to be seen.