Shou Chew, the CEO of TikTok, has thanked the incoming US President Donald Trump for his ¡°commitment¡± to working with the company to find a solution to keep the Chinese short-video app available in the country. In a video posted across social media platforms, Chew, a Singapore national, said the company is fighting to protect the constitutional right to free speech for more than 170 million Americans who use TikTok every day.
Chew's comments came after the US Supreme Court on Friday rejected a last-minute appeal by TikTok against the ban that would go into effect on 19 January.
The Supreme Court, while acknowledging TikTok¡¯s role in providing Americans with a unique means of engagement and expression, also pointed to the importance of national security.
Responding to the Supreme Court order, Trump, in a post on Truth Social, said it was expected.
Trump stated that he would make a decision in the ¡°not too distant¡± future and also revealed that he had a ¡°very good¡± phone call with China¡¯s President Xi Jinping, which included a discussion on the future of TikTok in the US.
In response to Trump's post, Chew, who is set to attend the inauguration of the 47th US President, said, ¡°We are thankful and happy to have the endorsement of a president who really gets our message¡ªone who himself has used TikTok to share his own opinions and views, to reach out to the world, and to gain over 60 billion views for his posts."
According to the TikTok CEO, ¡°We are fighting to protect the constitutional right to free speech for more than 170 million Americans who use TikTok every day.¡±
TikTok landed in trouble after Congress passed a law that mandated ByteDance, the parent company, to sell to a US buyer before 19 January or face a ban.
For more news and current affairs?from around the world, please visit Indiatimes News.