In a surprising turn of events, former President Donald Trump has made his debut on TikTok, the popular short video social media platform owned by China-based tech company ByteDance. This move comes despite Trump’s previous attempts to ban the app during his presidency.
According to a report by Politico, Trump Joins TikTok and posted a launch video on his TikTok account on Saturday night, featuring footage of him greeting fans at an Ultimate Fighting Championship fight in Newark, New Jersey. His account, under the username @realdonaldtrump, quickly amassed over 450,000 followers by 0800 GMT.
Trump joins TikTok comes amidst ongoing legal battles between ByteDance and the US government. ByteDance is currently challenging a US law that mandates the company to sell TikTok by next January or face a potential ban. The White House has expressed concerns over Chinese-based ownership of TikTok, citing national security reasons.
However, TikTok has vehemently denied allegations of data sharing with the Chinese government and has emphasized its commitment to user privacy. The platform has implemented extensive measures to safeguard user data, seeking to allay concerns raised by US authorities.
Trump’s previous efforts to ban TikTok in 2020 faced opposition from the courts, and his administration’s actions were ultimately blocked. Despite labeling TikTok as a national security threat earlier this year, Trump acknowledged the potential negative impact of a ban, particularly on young users. He also criticized Meta Platforms’ Facebook, suggesting that a TikTok ban would only serve to strengthen its competitor.
As Trump’s presence on TikTok gains attention, it underscores the complex relationship between social media, politics, and national security concerns, particularly in the lead-up to the US elections in November.