TikTok's Hope for Trump to Stop US Ban Faces Resistance from His FCC Pick
TikTok faces uncertainty regarding its US ban as Trump's potential presidency and FCC nominee present conflicting stances. While TikTok hopes Trump might reverse the impending ban, his FCC nominee Brendan Carr strongly supports prohibiting the app's operation in the United States.
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The current situation requires TikTok to find a US-based owner by January 19 to avoid a ban. Trump's shifting position stems from his antipathy toward Meta (Facebook and Instagram's parent company), which previously suspended his accounts.
Brendan Carr, Trump's FCC nominee, explicitly supports "either a total ban or some sort of action that's going to completely sever the corporate links back into Beijing." Similarly, Matt Gaetz, Trump's attorney general pick, has recently expressed support for a ban despite previously voting against it in the House.
TikTok and ByteDance have responded by:
- Filing lawsuits against the US government
- Claiming the ban is unconstitutional
- Arguing it violates First Amendment rights
- Disputing claims about national security risks
If Trump decides to prevent the ban, he could:
- Push Congress to repeal the law
- Refuse to enforce the ban
- Help TikTok secure a US buyer
The final outcome remains uncertain, as Trump's administration appears divided on the issue, with key appointees favoring stricter measures against the platform despite Trump's potential willingness to preserve TikTok's US presence.
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