TikTok Had No Backup Plan to Legal Fight—but Trump Lobbying May Save It

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In the eight months since President Joe Biden signed into law a requirement that TikTok sever its ties with its Chinese parent, ByteDance, or face a ban in the U.S., TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew has been asked numerous times by company executives what TikTok would do if its legal fight against the law failed. Chew never gave a clear answer and sometimes said he hadn’t thought about it, according to two people with knowledge of those discussions.

Now, as the Sunday deadline for the ban looms and the Supreme Court decision on Friday morning upheld the law, it’s become clear TikTok had no backup plan. President-elect Donald Trump’s team has signaled in the past day that Trump will find a way to keep TikTok alive. That suggests a combination of good luck and TikTok’s foresight in mending relations with Trump may at least temporarily save the day for the popular app.