TikTok CEO thanks Trump for ‘commitment’ to avert US ban

TikTok CEO thanks Trump for ‘commitment’ to avert US ban



TikTok CEO Chew Shou Zi yesterday said he wants to thank US President-elect Donald Trump for his commitment to work with the company to find a solution that keeps the app available in the United States.— Picture from Reuters

Saturday, 18 Jan 2025 9:40 AM MYT


WASHINGTON, Jan 18 — TikTok chief executive officer Chew Shou Zi said yesterday he wants to thank US President-elect Donald Trump for his commitment to work with the company and find a solution that keeps the app available in the United States.

The company has until Jan 19, to cut ties with its China-based parent ByteDance or shut down its US operation to resolve concerns it posed a threat to national security.

Supreme Court justices upheld a ban on Jan 17 in a unanimous decision and a White House statement suggested President Joe Biden would not take any action to save TikTok before the deadline.

Trump said on Jan 17 the decision on the future of the TikTok app will be up to him, but did not provide any detail about what steps he would take.

Media reports have said that he was considering an executive order that would suspend the enforcement of the TikTok sale-or-ban law for 60 to 90 days.

Trump also said he and Chinese President Xi Jinping discussed issues including TikTok in a phone call on Jan 17.

Chew plans to attend the US presidential inauguration on Jan 20 and sit among high-profile guests invited by Trump, a source told Reuters. — Reuters