President-elect Donald Trump called himself a master negotiator.
With popular social media platform TikTok set to be banned in the United States a day before he returns to the White House, the new commander in chief says he wants to have a chance to save it.
“President Trump single-handedly has the supreme deal-making expertise, electoral mandate, and political will to negotiate a resolution to save the platform while addressing the national security concerns expressed by the government – concerns that President Trump himself has acknowledged » according to a brief filed by Trump Friday evening ahead of an upcoming Supreme Court hearing next month.
Trump and his allies have long portrayed the president as a “negotiator” and said it would continue during his second round in the Oval Office, including negotiating a end to Israel’s war in Gaza And commitment rates against its allies, Mexico and Canada, in an effort to curb immigration to the United States – a key goal of the president-elect’s campaign.
Trump called the Supreme Court to suspend a law that could ban TikTok, arguing that the president-elect’s negotiating skills will be able to find a solution that addresses TikTok’s national security concerns Parent company based in BeijingByteDance, as well as concerns that banning the app could limit free speech in the United States.
“Negotiate a resolution”:Trump asks Supreme Court to suspend TikTok ban
“President Trump’s first term has been marked by a series of political triumphs achieved through historic agreements, and he has a strong chance of success in this latest national security and foreign policy effort,” the document said without specify which policies.
Earlier this year, Congress passed a bipartisan law signed by President Joe Biden that requires TikTok Parent company based in BeijingByteDance, to sell the application. The app would be banned from stores and web hosting companies in the United States if ByteDance did not sell it.
TikTok previously requested the Supreme Court to suspend enforcement of this requirement while the company continues to argue why the law is unconstitutional. Earlier this month, the Supreme Court they said they wouldn’t decide whether to maintain the Jan. 19 deadline until the justices debate the merits of the law during oral arguments scheduled for Jan. 10.
Although Trump attempted to ban the app during his first term as president, the president made a campaign promise during the 2024 presidential election to “save TikTok”, as his presidential campaign often used the application to attract young voters.
In their brief, Trump’s lawyers said that Trump’s creation of his own social media site, Truth Social, and his use of TikTok, where he has 14.7 million followers, allows him “to evaluate the importance of TikTok as a unique means of freedom of expression, including key political issues.” speech.”
Will the Supreme Court save TikTok?What awaits us in the final legal confrontation.
“President Trump is one of the most powerful, prolific and influential social media users in history,” the statement said.
Trump’s spending bill failed
Although Trump touts his negotiating skills, the president-elect is already facing problems with parts of his agenda – failing to keep his party unified during a debate over government funding.
Trump earlier this month exploded a first short-term spending agreement. He failed to gain Republican support for legislation he supported that would keep the U.S. government open through March while lifting the cap on the amount of debt the federal government can take on.
The House then passed a bipartisan bill that received majority Democratic support to avoid a government shutdown.
Contributors: Maureen Groppe, Karissa Waddick and Zac Anderson, USA TODAY
