In a surprising move, attorneys representing President-elect Donald Trump have asked the Supreme Court to pause a law that would force TikTok-owner ByteDance to sell the popular short-form video app or face a ban in the United States. The ban is currently set to take effect on January 19, just a few weeks from now.

The law in question, officially titled the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act, has been challenged by ByteDance on constitutional grounds. The Supreme Court is scheduled to hear arguments on January 10. Trump's lawyers argue that the ban-or-sell deadline, coming one day before his inauguration, represents "unfortunate timing" that interferes with his "ability to manage the United States' foreign policy."

The filing does not specify what approach Trump might take to the issue, but it claims that he "alone possesses the consummate dealmaking expertise, the electoral mandate, and the political will to negotiate a resolution to save the platform while addressing the national security concerns expressed by the Government." This statement suggests that Trump may be open to finding a compromise that would allow TikTok to continue operating in the US while addressing concerns around national security and data privacy.

Interestingly, Trump's lawyers also highlight his personal connection to the platform, noting that he currently has 14.7 million followers on TikTok. This, they argue, allows him to "evaluate TikTok's importance as a unique medium for freedom of expression, including core political speech." This statement may be seen as an attempt to emphasize the importance of preserving free speech and online expression, particularly in the context of political discourse.

The law's supporters have long argued that TikTok presents a national security threat because the Chinese government could use it to collect data and push propaganda to US viewers. However, Trump himself has expressed support for the app more recently, even posting on Truth Social during his presidential campaign, "FOR ALL OF THOSE THAT WANT TO SAVE TIK TOK IN AMERICA, VOTE TRUMP!" This apparent shift in stance has raised questions about the motivations behind Trump's lawyers' filing.

Civil liberties and free speech groups, including the American Civil Liberties Union and Electronic Frontier, have filed their own brief supporting TikTok's appeal. They argue that "the government has not presented credible evidence of ongoing or imminent harm caused by TikTok." This development highlights the broader implications of the TikTok ban, which could have far-reaching consequences for online expression and the tech industry as a whole.

As the Supreme Court prepares to hear arguments on January 10, the fate of TikTok in the US hangs in the balance. Will Trump's lawyers succeed in pausing the ban, or will the court uphold the law? The outcome of this case will have significant implications for the tech industry, national security, and the future of online expression in the United States.

Stay tuned for further updates on this developing story as more information becomes available.