TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew is reportedly planning to attend U.S. President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration on January 20. According to a report by The New York Times, citing “two people familiar with the plans,” Chew has been invited to sit in a position of honor on the dais—a spot typically reserved for former presidents, family members, and other distinguished guests.
This development comes at a pivotal moment for TikTok, which faces the prospect of being banned in the United States if the Supreme Court and the government do not overturn a law signed by current President Joe Biden before the January 19 deadline, just one day before Trump is set to take office.
Another potential resolution for TikTok is its sale to a U.S. entity by its current owner, China-based ByteDance. The short video social media platform boasts over 170 million users in the U.S., many of whom rely on it for their livelihood as content creators.
TikTok has been under scrutiny by U.S. lawmakers and government officials over alleged “national security risks.” During his first presidency, Trump also targeted TikTok but is now reportedly considering saving the platform with a presidential executive order.
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TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew to attend Trump inauguration, NYT reports
cgtn.com
