TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew is set to attend President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration on January 20, 2025, joining other prominent tech leaders such as Elon Musk, Mark Zuckerberg, and Jeff Bezos.
This attendance comes at a critical juncture for TikTok, as the platform faces a potential ban in the United States due to national security concerns over its Chinese parent company, ByteDance.
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In 2020, then-President Trump sought to ban TikTok, citing threats to national security. However, during his 2024 presidential campaign, Trump reversed his stance, opposing the ban and suggesting that while security concerns should be addressed, banning the app would unduly benefit competitors like Facebook.
The Supreme Court recently upheld a law requiring ByteDance to divest its U.S. operations by January 19, 2025, or face a ban. In response, ByteDance has resisted selling its U.S. operations, leading to heightened uncertainty about the app’s future.
President-elect Trump has indicated he may issue an executive order granting a 90-day extension for ByteDance to secure a non-Chinese buyer, aiming to prevent an immediate shutdown and allow more time for negotiations.
Chew’s presence at the inauguration underscores TikTok’s commitment to engaging with U.S. policymakers and seeking a resolution that addresses security concerns while preserving the app’s availability to its 170 million American users.
As the situation develops, TikTok users and stakeholders await further announcements regarding the platform’s status in the U.S.
