(Reuters) – The CEO of TikTok plans to attend the inauguration of US President-elect Donald Trump, The New York Times (NYSE: ) reported on Wednesday, citing two people familiar with the plans.
Shou Zi Chew was invited to sit in the place of honor on the dais, which is usually reserved for former presidents, family members and other important guests, the report said.
TikTok and its Chinese parent ByteDance did not immediately respond to Reuters requests for comment.
With more than 170 million US users and, according to Bernstein analysts, about $20 billion in estimated revenue in 2025, TikTok is extremely popular with young people and advertisers.
The short-form video platform plans to shut down the US operations of its social media app on Sunday, when the federal ban is set to take effect, barring a last-minute delay, people familiar with the matter said.
The Washington Post reported that Trump is considering issuing an executive order to suspend implementation of the shutdown for 60 to 90 days. The report did not say how Trump could legally do this.
Last week, the US Supreme Court appeared inclined to uphold legislation that would have forced a sale or banned TikTok, despite calls from Trump and lawmakers to extend the deadline. Trump said he should have time for a “political solution” to the problem after taking office.
President Joe Biden signed a law last April requiring ByteDance to sell its US assets by January 19 or face a nationwide ban.
The Supreme Court is currently deciding whether to uphold the law and enforce the TikTok ban on Sunday, or strike down or pause the law to give the court more time to rule.
