TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew is set to attend President-elect Donald Trump's inauguration and will be seated on the platform alongside other distinguished guests, as per sources familiar with the plans.
Trump has expressed his intention to intervene in the potential nationwide ban facing TikTok, scheduled to come into effect the day before the inauguration if the app's China-based parent company fails to divest it and if the Supreme Court does not intervene.
Trump is considering a strategy to postpone the ban, allowing his incoming administration more time to potentially negotiate with a US buyer to rescue the popular video-sharing platform. He has also requested the Supreme Court to delay the ban.
The president-elect, who held a meeting with Chew at his Mar-a-Lago club in December, had previously advocated for banning TikTok due to national security concerns. However, he altered his stance during the 2024 campaign, attributing his change of heart to TikTok's role in attracting younger voters and expressing his fondness for the app.
Efforts to obtain a comment from TikTok are currently underway. The New York Times was the first to report on Chew's anticipated presence at the inauguration.
