President-elect Donald Trump told CNN on Friday that TikTok’s future "ultimately goes up to me" despite the Supreme Court's decision to uphold a federal law banning the app unless it's sold.
Trump spoke to CNN's Pamela Brown shortly after the Supreme Court unanimously upheld the federal law banning TikTok beginning Sunday unless it's sold by its China-based parent company, holding that the risk to national security posed by its ties to China overcomes concerns about limiting speech by the app or its 170 million users in the United States.
'"It ultimately goes up to me, so you're going to see what I'm going to do,' Trump tells me in a brief phone call," Brown posted on X.
"He goes on: 'Congress has given me the decision, so I'll be making the decision.’ He did not provide further details on what that decision would be."
On air, Brown said Trump "did not provide further details" on what measures he would take to reverse the ban.
Trump then took to Truth Social to say: “The Supreme Court decision was expected, and everyone must respect it. My decision on TikTok will be made in the not too distant future, but I must have time to review the situation. Stay tuned!”
Trump, who earlier in the day spoke with Chinese President Xi Jinping, has insisted he could negotiate a solution to TikTok's situation. Outgoing President Joe Biden’s administration has signaled it won't enforce the law beginning Sunday, his final full day in office.
Trump, mindful of TikTok’s popularity, and his own 14.7 million followers on the app, finds himself on the opposite side of the argument from prominent Senate Republicans who fault TikTok’s Chinese owner for not finding a buyer before now.
It's unclear what options are open to Trump once he's sworn in as president on Monday. The law allowed for a 90-day pause in the restrictions on the app if there had been progress toward a sale before it took effect.
Solicitor General Elizabeth Prelogar, who defended the law at the Supreme Court for the Biden administration, told the justices last week that it's uncertain whether the prospect of a sale once the law is in effect could trigger a 90-day respite for TikTok.
The Associated Press contributed to this story.
Charlie McCarthy ✉
Charlie McCarthy, a writer/editor at Newsmax, has nearly 40 years of experience covering news, sports, and politics.
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