The U.S. Supreme Court has upheld a law requiring Chinese-owned TikTok to be sold to an American company by Sunday or face a ban. The unanimous ruling affirmed the law, signed by President Joe Biden last year, does not violate free speech rights under the First Amendment.
The decision marks a setback for TikTok and President-elect Donald Trump, who takes office Monday. Trump has been scrambling to find a solution to save the app, which he unsuccessfully sought to ban during his first term. The ruling reinforces bipartisan concerns about TikTok’s ties to Beijing and its potential national security risks.
“The Supreme Court’s unanimous decision sends a clear message,” said Democratic Representative Frank Pallone. “TikTok and other Beijing-controlled applications present a major threat to our national security.” Republican Senator Tom Cotton echoed these concerns, blaming TikTok’s parent company, ByteDance, for failing to comply. “ByteDance and its Chinese Communist masters had nine months to sell TikTok,” Cotton said, calling the app a “communist spy tool.”
TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew thanked Trump in a video, expressing hope for a solution to keep TikTok operational in the U.S. Meanwhile, lawmakers from both parties urged efforts to save the app, citing its economic importance and popularity. Democratic Senator Chuck Schumer stressed the need for an American buyer to protect users and creators.
With time running out, only President Biden could extend the Sunday deadline, though such a move appeared unlikely. The White House said implementing the law would fall to the incoming Trump Administration.