430On December 22, 2024, during a speech in Phoenix, Arizona, Trump explicitly expressed his support for TikTok to continue operating in the United States for a period of time.
This statement is one of Trump's clearest stances so far on whether TikTok should remain in the U.S. market, and it brings a glimmer of hope for the future of this short video app, which is very popular among young people, in the United States.
Image source: from the Internet
Background: The Interaction Between TikTok and Trump
Since TikTok entered the U.S. market, it has always been at the center of public opinion. Especially during President Trump's term, TikTok became the focus of the U.S.-China rivalry in technology and security.
Trump has repeatedly made public statements, accusing TikTok of potentially threatening U.S. national security, demanding that its parent company ByteDance sell TikTok, and even threatening to ban the platform. During his administration, he promoted a "ban TikTok" policy and proposed several plans, but ultimately failed to fully implement them.
However, this statement in 2024 is completely different. Trump said he supports TikTok's continued operation and specifically emphasized the important role TikTok played in his presidential campaign.
In fact, during his campaign, Trump used the TikTok platform to release a large amount of content and gained billions of views thanks to its huge user base. Trump also pointed out that TikTok helped him attract a large number of young people's attention, which made him have a more favorable impression of TikTok.
Image source: from the Internet
The Impact of the "Sell or Ban" Bill
Although Trump has expressed support for TikTok, the app still faces severe challenges in the United States. In April 2024, the U.S. Congress passed the "Sell or Ban" bill, requiring TikTok's parent company ByteDance to sell TikTok by January 19, 2025, or the app will be banned from operating in the United States.
In response, ByteDance has made it clear that it will not sell TikTok and has filed a lawsuit, arguing that the bill violates the U.S. Constitution.
Currently, TikTok has asked the U.S. Supreme Court to temporarily freeze the forced sale order, arguing that the bill not only infringes on TikTok's constitutional rights but also harms the interests of 170 million American users. The U.S. Supreme Court plans to hold a hearing on this case on January 10, 2025, and the outcome will have a significant impact on TikTok's future in the United States.
Image source: from the Internet
Trump's Statement and the Future of TikTok
Trump's latest statement has undoubtedly brought some positive signals amid the uncertainty about TikTok's future.
However, TikTok still faces strict scrutiny and pressure from the U.S. government, especially in terms of national security and data privacy. Although Trump has shown a more tolerant attitude, other officials and politicians in the U.S. government may not ease their crackdown on TikTok, especially those who have long advocated for banning TikTok, and they may influence Trump's policies.
TikTok needs to continue adjusting its strategies within the U.S. legal and policy environment to cope with pressure from the government and competitors. At the same time, the change in Trump's stance also means that TikTok's future in the United States will be a complex situation full of uncertainties.
