TikTok CEO Chew Shou Zi meets Trump at Mar-a-Lago ahead of US ban
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TikTok CEO Chew Shou Zi is one of many tech leaders choosing to meet President-elect Donald Trump before his inauguration in January.
PHOTO: REUTERS
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PALM BEACH, Florida - TikTok chief executive Chew Shou Zi met US President-elect Donald Trump at Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida on Dec 16, just weeks before the popular video app is expected to be banned in the US over national security concerns.
The private meeting, confirmed by a source familiar with the discussion, came just hours after Trump suggested he would somehow try to reverse the ban to save TikTok, which he used to reach young voters on the campaign trail.
“We’ll take a look at TikTok,” Trump told reporters earlier on Dec 16 from Mar-a-Lago. “You know, I have a warm spot in my heart for TikTok.”
Trump had previously tried to ban TikTok in 2020 during his first term as president, but has since switched his stance on the app.
It was not immediately clear what Trump and Mr Chew discussed. A spokesperson for TikTok did not respond to a request for comment. CNN earlier reported about the meeting.
The shutdown, which is slated for Jan 19
The company has been fighting the law. A federal appeals court in Washington decided in December to uphold the divest-or-ban law and then rejected TikTok’s request for an injunction.
The social media company on Dec 16 asked the Supreme Court to review the case.
Mr Chew is one of several tech leaders choosing to meet Trump before his inauguration in January.
Meta Platforms CEO Mark Zuckerberg had dinner with Trump
