[TikTok’s logo. Photo Credit to Pixabay]

TikTok’s CEO Shou Zi Chew met with US President-elect Donald Trump at Mar-a-Lago in Florida as the social media giant continues its fight against the US Congress’ legislation to ban it in the country. 

The high-stakes meeting, the first between the two men since Trump's November victory, comes at a crucial moment for the embattled platform.

Chew was spotted in Trump's Florida property in early December and had been seeking an audience with the president-elect since the election.

The encounter marks the latest in a series of meetings between Trump and senior executives from major US technology companies.

Just hours before the meeting, TikTok filed an emergency petition with the Supreme Court regarding a contentious law that would force the platform to either cease US operations or transfer to a new, non-Chinese owner. 

The legislation’s deadline looms on January 19th, mere hours before Trump’s inauguration as the 47th President of the United States of America. 

Under the law’s provisions, US app stores and internet providers would face heavy fines for hosting the app if TikTok fails to meet the January deadline.

However, the president retains the authority to extend the deadline once.

In its court filing, the company has urgently requested the Supreme Court to stay the prohibition.

The US government’s push for TikTok’s sale or ban comes from concerns over alleged ties between ByteDance and the Chinese government - allegations that both TikTok and ByteDance have consistently denied.

Following the meeting, Trump indicated plans for a new strategy regarding the popular social media platform, though details remain undisclosed. 

He noted his “special place in his heart” for TikTok, citing his 34-point victory margin among youth voters in the presidential election with some analysts attributing TikTok’s role in that success.

Bipartisan backing helped Congress approve the ban earlier this year, and was signed into law by President Joe Biden in April.

It was a response to years of Washington's worries about the national security threats posed by TikTok's Chinese parent company.

TikTok's Supreme Court appeal places the justices at the center of a high-profile conflict between the platform’s executives and users - who argue the ban violates First Amendment rights - and Congress, which cites national security concerns over China’s influence. 

Earlier this month, a federal appeals court ruled that the government had a national security interest in regulating the platform in the US, and unanimously sustained the ban. 

TikTok's legal team is seeking a temporary stay of the ban while pursuing a full appeal before the Supreme Court.

Should the justices agree, the statute would remain suspended while the court considers whether to hear the case.

The attorneys have requested a ruling on their emergency motion by January 6, arguing this timeline would give the company sufficient time to coordinate with service pro