TikTok CEO Chew Shou Zi thanks Trump for 'commitment' to keep TikTok available in US

The Chief Executive Officer of TikTok, Chew Shou Zi, has thanked incoming U.S. President Donald Trump for his commitment to working with them to find a solution to keep TikTok available in the U.S.

He said it is a strong stand for the First Amendment and against "arbitrary censorship".

This came after the outgoing Biden administration said the incoming Trump administration would be in charge of implementing the law banning TikTok in the U.S.

Chew highlights how TikTok has benefitted American businesses

Chew's message was part of a TikTok released on Jan. 18, 2025, in response to the U.S. Supreme Court's unanimous decision to uphold the law banning the social media app.

Trump has vowed to save the app, and in December, he even called on the Supreme Court to delay the law's implementation so that his administration could seek a political solution.

Chew will also reportedly attend Trump's inauguration.

Chew said, "We are grateful and pleased to have the support of a President who truly understands our platform — one who has used TikTok to express his own thoughts and perspectives, connecting with the world and generating more than 60 billion views in the process."

@tiktokOur response to the Supreme Court decision.♬ original sound - TikTok

Chew also pointed out how TikTok has helped Americans.

Apart from creating communities, discovering new interests and expressing themselves, TikTok has also helped over 7 million American businesses earn a living and gain new customers using the platform, he said.

Biden: Implementation of the Supreme Court's decision falls on Trump's administration

Meanwhile, the White House stated in response to the Supreme Court's decision that President Joe Biden has been clear that TikTok should remain available to Americans, but simply under American ownership or other ownership that addresses the national security concerns identified by Congress in developing this law.

The statement added, "Given the sheer fact of timing, this Administration recognizes that actions to implement the law simply must fall to the next Administration, which takes office on Monday (Jan. 20, 2025)".

The U.S. Justice Department also released a statement regarding the decision, quoting Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco, who welcomed the decision.

Monaco said:

"We welcome today’s decision by the Supreme Court. The Justice Department has long warned about the national security harms from PRC control of TikTok — including the ability to gather sensitive information about tens of millions of Americans and to covertly manipulate the content delivered to them."

Monaco added:

"The next phase of this effort — implementing and ensuring compliance with the law after it goes into effect on January 19 — will be a process that plays out over time."

In response to both the White House and the Justice Department, TikTok subsequently released another statement on Jan. 18, 2025.

It criticised both the White House and the Justice Department for failing to provide the "necessary clarity and assurance" to the service providers that are integral to maintaining TikTok's availability to over 170 million Americans.

TikTok added that it would be forced to "go dark" on Jan. 19, 2025, unless Biden's administration immediately provides a "definitive statement" to satisfy the most critical service providers assuring non-enforcement.

Top left photo via Xiaomi/Facebook, right photo via Donald Trump/Facebook