TikTok CEO Shou Chew is expected to attend President Trump’s inauguration and will sit on the dais next to other tech CEOs including Elon Musk, Mark Zuckerberg, and Jeff Bezos, as reported by NBC News sources. Google CEO Sundar Pichai is also expected to attend, according to a Trump transition official who spoke to NBC News.
NBC News has contacted representatives of TikTok and Google for comments. TikTok declined to comment, while Google has not responded immediately to the request. The New York Times was the first to report on Chew’s attendance, citing two sources familiar with the plans.
The announcement of these new guest additions comes shortly before TikTok faces a potential ban in the U.S., which could result in the app being removed from stores like Google Play and Apple’s app store if the Chinese-owned company does not sell its U.S. subsidiary to an American company. ByteDance, TikTok’s parent company, has so far refused to sell, and the Supreme Court has not issued a definitive ruling since hearing arguments last Friday regarding the law targeting TikTok’s ban.
President-elect Donald Trump submitted an amicus brief to the Supreme Court before last Friday’s argument, urging the court to prevent the ban and seek a political solution. However, the specifics of how this would be carried out remain unclear. Trump has previously shifted his stance on TikTok, recognizing the app as an effective campaigning tool that contributed to his election victory in November.
The incoming administration of President Joe Biden is exploring options to ensure TikTok remains available in the U.S. if the anticipated ban takes effect on Sunday, according to three individuals familiar with the discussions.
