Delaying Before Trump's Inauguration?… TikTok Requests Suspension of U.S. Forced Sale Law

TikTok has requested a suspension of the U.S. law that forces the sale or ban of its parent company ByteDance's app to allow the U.S. Supreme Court time to review it.

TikTok argued that if the law is temporarily suspended, President-elect Donald Trump's incoming administration will have time to debate both the imminent harm and the necessity of Supreme Court review.

This law is set to take effect on January 19, the day before Trump's inauguration. During his first term, Trump pushed for the sale of the TikTok app but faced opposition to the ban during his campaign, appealing to young voters.

As Americans become increasingly dependent on TikTok, the ban on its operation in the U.S. has become a hot political issue. Over 170 million Americans use TikTok as a source of news and entertainment, with many using it to build small businesses. TikTok estimated that a one-month suspension of the app could result in over $1 billion in revenue losses for U.S. small businesses.

TikTok insisted that the incoming Trump administration should be given enough time to resolve this issue. The company stated, "The administration can suspend enforcement of the law or mitigate the most severe potential consequences." TikTok requested the court to decide on emergency relief by December 16, allowing enough time to request a stay from the Supreme Court if necessary.