TikTok Appeals to Trump to Save it from US Ban

It seems that TikTok wants to rely on the vanity of President-elect Donald Trump, with Trump sharing this graphicwhich appears to have been compiled by TikTok, highlighting its performance on the app.

Trump’s post, shared on his own social media app Social truthis accompanied by the inscription: “Why would I want to get rid of TikTok?”

The update reflects Trump’s previous support for the app, which he initially tried to sell off during his first term, still in 2020.

But recently Trump voiced his support for the app, noting that now he is a “big star” on TikTokand that as such he sees no reason to get rid of him.

Which, of course, has nothing to do with the national security concerns that motivated US senators support a TikTok sales account. But it’s clear that TikTok is hoping that by appealing to Trump’s ego and showing how big a star she is on the app, it will help boost Trump’s efforts to save her, allowing her to avoid removal from the US.

Which should happen later this month, with TikTok to be given by January 19 allow sales to an American company or face a ban in the country. Trump’s team has already submitted the request amicus brief with the Supreme Court to extend this deadline, to give Trump time to explore other outcomes after he is inaugurated on January 20. That request has not yet been approved, but at least in theory, it could still provide a lifeline for the application, if Trump feels passionate enough to oppose the original Senate-approved bill.

Although even then his ways to do so are limited. Still, with the deadline fast approaching, TikTok is clearly pinning at least some hope on Trump taking executive action and saving it from being kicked out of the US outright.

The most likely outcome, then, could be for TikTok to return to the US at a later stage, after Trump’s team has had a chance to negotiate a new deal. It remains to be seen how this will be structured, but right now it seems unlikely that Trump will have time to take action in favor of TikTok to avoid immediate action.

But TikTok is likely to make a comeback, even if it gets deleted from US app stores for a while.

And with Trump having such a strong presence on the app, you can bet it’ll be on his mind before he takes office later this month.