Featured Image Credit: Andrew Harnik / Staff / Getty
In a dramatic reversal, the White House has officially joined TikTok - the same social media platform that President Trump repeatedly threatened to ban during his previous administration.
Just a few years ago, Trump was pushing hard to force TikTok out of the US market entirely, claiming the Chinese-owned app posed serious threats to American security.
Back when Trump first targeted TikTok in 2020, his administration argued that the app's data collection could 'allow the Chinese Communist Party access to Americans' personal and proprietary information — potentially allowing China to track the locations of Federal employees and contractors, build dossiers of personal information for blackmail, and conduct corporate espionage.'
The ban effort gained bipartisan support, with Congress overwhelmingly voting to prohibit the app in the US. Although the legislation faced legal challenges, it was ultimately upheld by the Supreme Court with an original deadline of 19 January. After which, parent company ByteDance would need to sell or risk being banned.
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Trump extended that deadline multiple times, first by 90 days in June, then with another extension due to expire in mid-September.
Trump's stance changed during his 2024 presidential campaign. The platform proved incredibly effective for reaching younger voters, helping him amass nearly 15 million followers. Trump even hosted TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida, who then attended the POTUS' inauguration ceremony.
Despite the looming deadline of TikTok's ban, Donald Trump continues to permit the Chinese-owned platform in the US.
The White House's first TikTok post features clips of Trump at various events set to Kendrick Lamar's music. According to The New York Times, it references a popular video edit style inspired by the boxing movie 'Creed' starring Michael B. Jordan
In the TikTok post, Trump could be heard saying: "I am your voice," while the caption reads "America we are BACK! What's up TikTok?"
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt defended the decision to join the platform Trump once wanted to eliminate.
"President Trump's message dominated TikTok during his presidential campaign, and we're excited to build upon those successes and communicate in a way no other administration has before," Leavitt said in a statement. “The Trump administration is committed to communicating the historic successes President Trump has delivered to the American people with as many audiences and platforms as possible."
Even though the White House has shown support for TikTok, no one is quite sure what the app's future holds.
ByteDance has said it's been in discussions with the US government about a solution, but noted that any agreement would need approval under Chinese law. Trump has claimed that a 'very wealthy' group is ready to buy TikTok, though the administration hasn't revealed who these potential buyers are.
