BY AFP
TikTok CEO Shou Chew is set to attend Donald Trump’s inauguration on Monday, marking a pivotal moment for the social media platform as it faces the looming threat of a U.S. ban.
Chew will be among an elite group of tech leaders at the event, including Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk, Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, and Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg. The information was reported by The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal.
The timing of Chew’s appearance is significant, as the U.S. Supreme Court is expected to rule on legislation passed last year that requires TikTok’s Chinese parent company, ByteDance, to either divest the platform or shut down its U.S. operations.
If upheld, the law will take effect just a day before Trump is sworn into office. TikTok’s legal team has confirmed that if the ban is not blocked, the platform will “go dark” on Sunday. This would force Apple and Google to remove TikTok from their app stores, preventing new downloads and effectively suspending its services in the U.S.
Reports indicate that TikTok is preparing for the possibility of a full suspension, with plans in place to cease operations temporarily if the ban proceeds.
During his campaign, Trump voiced strong support for TikTok, acknowledging its massive popularity among American users. Sources close to the president-elect have revealed that he is considering measures to delay or counteract the ban, ensuring the platform remains accessible.
Once in office, Trump’s administration will have considerable influence over the law’s enforcement. His attorney general could delay implementation or refuse to enforce the ban, despite bipartisan support in Congress for the legislation.
Chew’s presence at the inauguration is seen as a strategic move to demonstrate TikTok’s commitment to maintaining its U.S. presence. However, the platform’s future remains uncertain as legal and political factors converge.
As millions of users, creators, and businesses await the Supreme Court’s decision and Trump’s subsequent actions, TikTok’s survival in the U.S. hangs in the balance.
