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TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew met with President-elect Donald Trump on Monday at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach, Florida. The meeting marked another in a series of high-profile discussions between Trump and major tech leaders ahead of his inauguration.
Chew’s visit comes as TikTok faces increasing uncertainty in the U.S. market due to pending regulations that could lead to a nationwide ban of the popular video-sharing app.
At the heart of the issue is a new U.S. law, signed by President Biden in April, that requires TikTok's parent company, ByteDance, to divest its stake in the platform or face a complete ban from U.S. app stores and network providers.
The deadline for compliance is set for January 19. In response, TikTok has filed an emergency appeal with the Supreme Court, asking for the divest-or-ban deadline to be delayed until the court can review the company's First Amendment claims.
ByteDance argues that divestment is not only impractical but also legally questionable, effectively making the law a de facto ban on TikTok in the U.S. TikTok's legal filing has sparked debate over issues of free speech and economic protectionism, with the platform's future in the U.S. hanging in the balance.
During Monday's press conference at Mar-a-Lago, Trump was asked if he would intervene to prevent the looming ban. While he did not provide a clear answer, his response hinted at a potential willingness to engage. “I have a warm spot in my heart for TikTok,” Trump said.
He added that he "won youth by 34 points," suggesting TikTok may have played a role in his electoral success. However, it remains unclear whether these remarks were made before or after his private meeting with Chew.
Trump has previously signaled some opposition to the divest-or-ban law, often framing himself as an advocate for free-market solutions.
On the campaign trail, he vowed to "save TikTok" but has provided little detail on how he intends to do so. His remarks at Mar-a-Lago suggest he may be open to finding a compromise, but no concrete plan has been announced.
Chew’s meeting with Trump is just one of several recent engagements between Trump and top tech executives. Over the past month, Trump has met with Apple CEO Tim Cook, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, and Google CEO Sundar Pichai.
He is expected to meet with Netflix CEO Ted Sarandos on Tuesday and Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos later this week, according to a source familiar with Trump’s schedule.
The flurry of meetings has raised speculation about a broader strategy by the tech industry to build relationships with Trump ahead of his second term.
Analysts believe that many tech leaders see value in maintaining strong ties with the incoming administration, especially given Trump's close alliance with Elon Musk, the billionaire owner of SpaceX, Tesla, and the social platform X.
Major players in the tech sector are already making financial contributions to support Trump’s inauguration. Last week, Meta and Amazon each pledged $1 million to Trump’s inaugural fund.
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman also announced a $1 million donation from his personal funds. These moves are seen by many as efforts to establish goodwill with the president-elect as he prepares to take office.
With TikTok's future hanging in the balance, the meeting between Trump and Chew could prove pivotal. If Trump takes a hard stance against the divestment order, it may provide TikTok with an opportunity to continue operating in the U.S. without ByteDance being forced to relinquish control.
But if Trump sides with the existing law, the platform could face an uncertain future, with millions of American users potentially losing access.
As it stands, Trump has yet to outline a clear position on the TikTok ban. His recent remarks suggest that he may be inclined to protect the platform, especially given his acknowledgment of TikTok’s impact on youth engagement.
However, with the January 19 deadline looming, time is running out for TikTok to secure a legal reprieve. For now, all eyes are on Trump and his evolving relationship with both the tech industry and the app’s growing American user base.
