Washington, 28 December 2024 (dpa/MIA) - US President-elect Donald Trump on Friday stepped into the ongoing dispute over the potential ban of the China-based video app TikTok in the United States, asking the Supreme Court to delay a law mandating the app's sale.

Trump argued that continued negotiations could save the platform while addressing national security concerns.

The law, which took effect in April, requires TikTok's Chinese parent company, ByteDance, to divest its ownership by January 19 or face removal from US app stores. The justification cites the risk that China could gain access to US data and exert political influence.

While TikTok's court challenges have so far failed, the Supreme Court has agreed to hear the case. A hearing is scheduled for January 10 to consider whether the law violates the First Amendment right to freedom of speech.

While US President Joe Biden has the authority to extend the deadline for TikTok by three months, this would require progress in ongoing sales negotiations. However, TikTok has so far refused to consider a change of ownership.

Former and soon-to-be president Trump tried to ban TikTok during his first presidency by issuing an executive order in 2020 that would have had that effect, saying TikTok's "risks are real."

That attempt was thwarted by a US federal judge, who said the then president did not have the authority to ban the app.

Trump has recently reversed his position on the popular app. TikTok says it has 170 million users in the US.

MIA file photo