TikTok CEO Shou Chew Is Going to Trump's Inauguration, Is Hoping for Follows

In a twist straight out of the tech-politics soap opera we’re all begrudgingly following, TikTok CEO Shou Chew is reportedly attending President-elect Trump’s inauguration, perched alongside Silicon Valley’s finest on the dais. Yes, that means Elon Musk, Mark Zuckerberg, and Jeff Bezos will now have one more awkward presence to ignore when the cameras pan over the tech bros’ table. NBC News broke the story, and The New York Times confirmed it with their own "people familiar with the plans," as is tradition.

This eyebrow-raising invitation comes mere days before TikTok faces the guillotine in the U.S., thanks to a ban that might kick the app off every Google Play and Apple App Store come Sunday. ByteDance, TikTok’s parent company, has refused to sell its U.S. operations, apparently preferring to play chicken with Uncle Sam rather than cash out. The Supreme Court hasn’t exactly rushed to save the day, with arguments heard last Friday but no ruling yet.

In a wild turn, Trump (who, let’s not forget, weaponized TikTok like a dance-crazed Trojan horse during his campaign) filed an amicus brief asking the Supreme Court to block the ban. Because sure, why not? Meanwhile, the Biden administration is hedging its bets, allegedly exploring options to keep TikTok alive even if the ban sticks.

So why is Chew showing up to the inauguration of a guy who’s made banning his app a cornerstone of U.S. foreign policy? Maybe it’s to make friends in high places. Maybe it’s to remind everyone that the kids with ring lights hold the real power. Or maybe, just maybe, it’s because nothing about this saga makes sense anymore.

Either way, Shou Chew’s seat at the table could be as fleeting as a TikTok trend. Blink, and you might miss him.