President-elect Donald Trump has requested the Supreme Court to postpone a controversial TikTok ban set to take effect in January 2025. The ban, approved by Congress in April, has been defended by the Biden administration as necessary to address national security concerns but criticized by Trump for its potential impact on free speech. The court is now tasked with balancing these two priorities.

The ban, scheduled to begin on January 19, 2025—just one day before Trump’s inauguration—is part of a broader effort to curb TikTok’s operations in the United States due to concerns over its Chinese ownership. The Biden administration argues that the platform poses a “grave” threat by collecting user data and manipulating content, which could potentially harm U.S. interests. Trump’s brief to the court emphasizes a negotiated resolution to preserve the platform’s services while addressing these security issues.

In his filing, Trump refrained from taking a definitive stance on the First Amendment questions raised by the ban but urged the court to delay its enforcement. This would allow his incoming administration to explore alternatives to a nationwide shutdown of TikTok. Trump’s brief highlights the potential precedent the ban could set in limiting free speech, affecting over 170 million Americans who use the app for communication and content creation.

The issue has drawn widespread attention, with briefs filed by both supporters and opponents of the ban. The Biden administration’s arguments are backed by a bipartisan group of former officials, including some from Trump’s own administration, who describe TikTok as a “technological weapon”. Meanwhile, free speech advocates, including the American Civil Liberties Union, have warned against the implications of restricting access to online platforms.

TikTok has defended itself in court, asserting that the government’s approach violates the First Amendment and fails to consider less restrictive measures. The company argues that banning the platform sets a dangerous precedent and unnecessarily limits Americans’ freedom to engage with diverse content.

The Supreme Court is set to hear arguments on January 10, with Trump’s brief marking his first legal action since winning the presidency. As the debate continues, the case underscores the complexities of balancing national security with the protection of free speech in the digital age.