The CEO of TikTok, Shou Chew, sought to flatter Donald Trump in a video statement regarding the Supreme Court’s ruling that upheld the ban on TikTok.
“I wish to express my gratitude to President Trump for his dedication to collaborating with us in pursuit of a solution that allows TikTok to remain accessible in the United States,” he stated. “This represents a robust defense of the First Amendment and a challenge to arbitrary censorship.”
During a meeting with Chew in December, Trump mentioned that he had “a soft spot” for the application, which Chew highlighted by pointing out Trump’s popularity on TikTok.
“We are thankful and delighted to have the backing of a president who genuinely comprehends our platform—one who has utilized TikTok to share his own thoughts and viewpoints, connecting with global audiences and amassing over 60 billion views of his content along the way,” he remarked.
This announcement follows reports indicating that the Biden administration would defer the enforcement of the ban to Trump.
Chew is anticipated to be present at Trump’s inauguration on Monday alongside other technology leaders, such as Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, and Mark Zuckerberg.
The tech industry has developed a close relationship with the incoming administration. Following Musk’s substantial investment of half a billion dollars into Trump’s campaign, Zuckerberg has decided to reverse certain diversity initiatives and fact-checking policies at Meta.
In his first term, Trump attempted to impose a ban on TikTok but altered his stance in June. The social media platform previously indicated it might “go dark” once the ban took effect on January 19, but it is now uncertain what the future holds for the app.
