In a surprising move, former US President Donald Trump made his debut on TikTok on Saturday, despite previously calling for the platform’s ban due to its Chinese ownership. The 13-second video appeared to be filmed at a UFC event in New Jersey, which Trump attended.
The first shot of the video featured Trump alongside UFC President Dana White, who announced, “The president is now on TikTok,” according to NBC News. “It’s my honor,” Trump responded, followed by a montage of him greeting fans at the arena. The clip ended with Trump saying, “That was a good walk-on, right?” Trump’s campaign has not yet commented on the matter.
Trump’s Position on TikTok
Trump’s reappearance on the video-sharing platform starkly contrasts with his previous stance. In 2020, he issued an executive order to ban TikTok in the United States, citing national security concerns. “The United States must take aggressive action against the owners of TikTok to protect our national security,” the executive order stated. However, the courts halted the order.
Earlier this year, in March, Trump shifted his position and opposed the ban on TikTok, arguing that it would benefit competing social media apps such as Facebook, which he has criticized in the past. Nevertheless, he maintained his view of TikTok as a national security threat.
Meanwhile, Republican lawmakers have been pushing for ByteDance, TikTok’s Chinese parent company, to divest from the app to ensure it can continue operating in the United States.
Biden’s Stance on TikTok
In a related development, President Joe Biden signed a bill into law in April that would initiate a ban on TikTok, although not immediately. The legislation gives ByteDance nine months to sell the app or face a ban in the U.S. Despite this, Biden’s own campaign has a TikTok account and regularly posts content on the platform.
Trump’s return to TikTok has generated significant attention and raises questions about the evolving landscape of social media and national security concerns in the digital age.