TikTok needs free speech arguments to overcome Trump’s broad powers to ban

TikTok Inc. sued President Donald Trump to overturn his Aug. 6 executive order that in effect will ban the Chinese-owned social media app in the U.S. next month. TikTok said in its lawsuit that the order was motivated by election-year politics and that Trump exceeded his authority because there’s no real national emergency justifying the order.

“Now is the time for us to act,” TikTok said in a statement announcing the Aug. 24 complaint in Los Angeles federal court. “We simply have no choice.”

How quickly will the lawsuit play out?

The Justice Department may make the first move by asking for dismissal of the case, which will require TikTok to respond. But it’s unlikely a judge will take any action before Sept. 20, the date that the president’s vaguely worded order takes effect.