U.S. Administration Launches TikTok Presence amidst Uncertainty in Domestic Laws
The digital landscape of American politics has seen an unexpected turn with the reemergence of former President Donald Trump on TikTok.
In a surprising move, the White House launched an official TikTok account in support of Trump, aiming to communicate his historical achievements and political messages to a wider audience, particularly young voters in the U.S. This decision came after Trump's initial support for a ban or divestment of TikTok, which he later reversed, citing the app's role in helping him win young voters' support in the November election.
The first TikTok post by Trump's account gained significant traction, amassing about 4,500 followers within an hour. As of now, Trump's TikTok account boasts a following of 110.1 million, a testament to the app's popularity among the younger demographic.
It's important to note that TikTok is owned by the China-based internet company ByteDance. This ownership has been a subject of controversy, leading to the initial calls for a ban or divestment. However, Trump put the TikTok ban on pause, and in mid-June 2021, he extended the deadline for TikTok by another 90 days to find a non-Chinese buyer or face potential ban in the United States. The extension is due to expire in mid-September.
Trump's political presence on TikTok, however, pales in comparison to his other digital platforms. His account associated with Twitter, before it was suspended, had a staggering 108.5 million followers. Interestingly, Trump's favorite social media outlet is Truth Social, which he owns, where he has 10.6 million followers.
Trump's last post on TikTok was on November 5, 2020 (Election Day). Since then, the account has remained relatively inactive, with the latest post being a video uploaded on June 22, 2021.
The federal law requiring TikTok's sale or ban on national security grounds was due to take effect on January 19, 2021, the day before Trump's inauguration. The future of Trump's TikTok account, like the app itself, remains uncertain, but one thing is clear: politics and social media continue to intertwine in intriguing ways.
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