In a surprising turn of events, President-elect Donald Trump has expressed his desire to keep TikTok in the US, despite a looming ban scheduled to take effect in less than a month. According to Reuters, Trump made the comments on Sunday, citing the app's massive popularity and his own successful experience on the platform.

Trump's remarks came during an event in Phoenix, Arizona, where he told supporters that he had been shown a chart highlighting TikTok's impressive viewership numbers. "They brought me a chart, and it was a record, and it was so beautiful to see, and as I looked at it, I said, 'Maybe we gotta keep this sucker around for a little while,'" Trump said. The president-elect reportedly met with TikTok's CEO on Monday, further fueling speculation about the app's future in the US.

Trump's comments come as a surprise, given the current legal landscape surrounding TikTok. In April, President Joe Biden signed a bill requiring TikTok's parent company, ByteDance, to sell the short-form video app by January 19 of next year – just one day before Trump takes office – or face a ban. The move was seen as a response to concerns over national security and data privacy, with some lawmakers arguing that TikTok's Chinese ownership posed a risk to American users.

However, ByteDance is fighting the bill in court, and the Supreme Court has agreed to hear arguments on January 10. The outcome of this legal battle will likely have significant implications for TikTok's future in the US, and Trump's comments may signal a potential shift in the administration's stance on the issue.

Industry analysts are closely watching the developments, as a TikTok ban would have significant consequences for the social media landscape and the millions of users who rely on the app. Meanwhile, Trump's apparent fondness for TikTok raises questions about the role of personal preferences in shaping policy decisions.

As the situation continues to unfold, one thing is clear: the fate of TikTok in the US hangs in the balance, and the next few weeks will be crucial in determining the app's future. Will Trump's comments mark a turning point in the saga, or will the legal process run its course? Only time will tell.