Tech industry leaders including TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew, Elon Musk, Mark Zuckerberg, and Jeff Bezos will attend Trump's presidential inauguration on January 20th, with privileged seating on the dais typically reserved for former presidents and distinguished guests.

This marks a significant shift in Trump's stance on TikTok, particularly given his previous attempts to ban the platform during his first term. The change appears driven by Trump's recognition of TikTok's role in connecting with younger voters during his recent campaign.

The timing is crucial as TikTok faces a potential US ban on January 19th, following Congressional legislation requiring ByteDance to sell TikTok's US operations to an American company over national security concerns. However, incoming national security adviser Mike Waltz has indicated Trump's intention to preserve TikTok while addressing data protection concerns once in office.

Chew's attendance follows a recent meeting with Trump at Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, Florida, suggesting potential collaboration between the platform and the incoming administration. While the Supreme Court could still rule on the ban's legality, Trump's newfound support for TikTok may prove decisive for the platform's future in the US market.

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