"He's literally the one who started this" - Netizens react as Donald Trump urges Supreme Court to pause TikTok ban law 

President-elect Donald Trump has asked the U.S. Supreme Court to pause implementing the TikTok ban law. Citing the amicus curiae (friend-of-the-court) filing by the billionaire's lawyer D. John Sauer, NBC News on Friday, December 27, 2024, reported that Trump supported neither party but could negotiate a resolution between the two. The publication wrote:

"(He) takes no position on the underlying merits of this dispute," it continued, "Instead, he respectfully requests that the Court consider staying the Act’s deadline for divestment of January 19, 2025, while it considers the merits of this case."

The filing continued to state that this would allow the incoming administration an "opportunity to pursue a political resolution."

For those unversed, the United States government has been pushing for the social media platform to be banned since mid-2020, citing national security threat issues. In April 2024, President Biden signed into law the Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act that requires TikTok's parent company, ByteDance, to sell it to an American company before January 19 or be banned with the U.S.

As news of Trump's filing went viral, internet users were quick to call out the hypocrisy, with one saying:

"He's literally the one who started this last time he was president yo."

A comment reacting to the news (Image via Instagram/ @theshaderoom)

Many called for other serious issues like gun violence, inflation, and student loan debt to take precedence. Here are some comments seen under @theshaderoom's post on X:

Comments reacting to the news (Image via Instagram/ @theshaderoom)

Others continued to call out the president-elect for initiating the ban in the first place.

Comments reacting to the news (Image via Instagram/ @theshaderoom)

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President-elect Donald Trump's filing claimed the pause will allow "more breathing space" while courts hear arguments in the TikTok case

Per a report by USA Today, Trump's filing argued that his administration can find a way to "save" the video-sharing platform without compromising on national security or the right to free speech. Proponents of the law cited spreading misinformation or propaganda and potential espionage as the reasons behind the ban. However, those opposing it reasoned that banning the platform is banning freedom of expression.

Per the publication, in response to the law, TikTok (on December 16) made an emergency appeal to the Supreme Court to pause the incoming law. The court will hear arguments in the case on January 10. Thus the justice would have only nine days to issue a ruling before its ban.

According to Oberlo, TikTok has over 130 million active users in the U.S. in 2024. Trump's filing argued that a pause would provide "breathing space" as the courts consider the ban on a "more measured schedule" as the incoming administration can negotiate a "resolution."

"In light of the novelty and difficulty of this case, the court should consider staying the statutory deadline to grant more breathing space to address these issues."

The filing also warned about setting a "dangerous global precedent" toward government censorship there by infringing the First Amendment. It continued:

"President Trump alone possesses the consummate dealmaking expertise, the electoral mandate, and the political will to negotiate a resolution to save the platform while addressing the national security concerns expressed by the Government—concerns which President Trump himself has acknowledged."

According to a December 17 report by NBC News, the president-elect met with TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew to discuss the matter. At a press conference earlier in the day, he expressed having a "soft spot" for the app.

Donald Trump has not publicly reacted to the backlash.