President-elect Trump has filed an amicus brief in the U.S. Supreme Court regarding the ongoing case involving TikTok. The brief, filed on Friday, addresses the unique national security and First Amendment issues raised by the situation.
In the brief, Trump argues that he should be the one to make the decision on whether TikTok can continue operating in the United States. He points out that TikTok is owned by ByteDance, a company based in Beijing with connections to the Chinese Communist Party.
Trump's argument comes as the Supreme Court is expected to hear oral arguments on January 10, 2025, regarding the law that requires a divestment of TikTok from foreign adversary control.
The brief states that President Trump, who is set to assume office on January 20, 2025, has a strong interest in national security, foreign policy, and First Amendment issues. It emphasizes that Trump received a powerful electoral mandate to protect the free-speech rights of all Americans, including TikTok users.
According to Trump's spokesman, the President-elect believes that the case presents a challenging tension between free-speech rights and foreign policy concerns. As the incoming Chief Executive, Trump sees himself as the right constitutional actor to resolve the dispute through political means.
The brief highlights that the President and Vice President of the United States are the only elected officials who represent all the voters in the nation, giving Trump a unique position to address the issues at hand.
Overall, Trump's amicus brief underscores his intention to address the TikTok situation once he takes office, with a focus on preserving American national security while respecting free-speech rights.
