Donald Trump, the President-elect, portrays himself as a skilled negotiator.

Just as the popular app TikTok faces a potential ban in the U.S. on the eve of his return to the White House, Trump is eager to find a way to preserve it.

“President Trump uniquely combines expert deal-making skills with a strong electoral mandate and political resolve to negotiate a solution that can both safeguard the platform and address the government’s national security worries — concerns that Trump has previously acknowledged,” stated a document submitted by him on Friday ahead of a forthcoming Supreme Court session next month.

Throughout his previous term, Trump and his supporters referred to him as a “deal maker,” a reputation he intends to uphold in his second term. This includes efforts to negotiate an end to the conflict in Gaza and threats of tariffs against allies such as Mexico and Canada to manage immigration — a pivotal element of his platform.

Trump urged the Supreme Court to pause a law that could lead to TikTok’s ban, asserting that his negotiation abilities could address both the national security issues surrounding TikTok’s parent company, ByteDance, based in Beijing, and concerns that banning the app would infringe on free speech in the U.S.

“President Trump had a successful first term marked by significant policy achievements through historic deals, and he is well-positioned to succeed in this latest national security and foreign policy challenge,” remarked the brief, without providing specific details on those policies.

This year, Congress enacted a bipartisan measure, signed by President Joe Biden, mandating that ByteDance, TikTok’s parent company, sell the app. If the sale does not occur, TikTok will be removed from U.S. app stores and hosting services.

TikTok has previously petitioned the Supreme Court to delay implementing this requirement while it continues to argue that the law is unconstitutional. Earlier this month, the Supreme Court stated they would not decide on extending the Jan. 19 deadline until after they review the law’s merits during oral arguments on Jan. 10.

Despite having tried to ban TikTok during his first presidency, Trump has committed in his 2024 campaign to “save TikTok,” which his campaign has utilized to engage younger voters.

Trump’s lawyers noted that his establishment of Truth Social, combined with his significant following on TikTok—14.7 million users—enables him to assess TikTok’s value as a distinct medium for free expression, especially concerning political discussions.

“President Trump ranks among the most impactful and engaging social media users in history,” emphasized the brief.

Trump’s failed spending bill

While Trump speaks about his negotiation prowess, he is encountering challenges with aspects of his agenda, struggling to maintain unity within his party during discussions about government funding.

Earlier this month, Trump abandoned an initial short-term funding proposal. He could not secure the necessary Republican backing for legislation aimed at keeping the U.S. government operational through March while allowing an increase in the federal government’s debt limit.

Subsequently, the House approved a bipartisan bill primarily supported by Democrats to prevent a government shutdown.