In a surprising turn of events, Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump has joined TikTok, the popular short video social media platform owned by China-based tech giant ByteDance.
This move comes ahead of the US elections in November and stands in stark contrast to his previous efforts to ban the platform during his presidency.
According to Politico, which first broke the news, Trump launched his TikTok account with a video posted on Saturday night.
The video featured him greeting fans at an Ultimate Fighting Championship event in Newark, New Jersey. By 0800 GMT, the account, named President Donald J Trump with the handle @realdonaldtrump, had already amassed over 450,000 followers.
ByteDance is currently engaged in a legal battle against a US law that requires the company to sell TikTok by January next year or face a ban. The law, which came into effect in April, is backed by the White House on the grounds of national security.
The administration has stated that it aims to end Chinese-based ownership of TikTok rather than ban the platform outright. TikTok, on its part, has maintained that it will not share US user data with the Chinese government and has implemented significant measures to protect user privacy.
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Trump’s relationship with TikTok has been contentious. In 2020, as president, he sought to ban the platform, citing national security concerns, his attempt was ultimately blocked by the courts.
In March, Trump reiterated his belief that TikTok poses a national security threat. However, he also acknowledged that banning the platform could adversely affect young people and potentially benefit Meta Platforms’ Facebook, a company he has frequently criticized.
Trump’s decision to join TikTok adds an intriguing layer to his ongoing political narrative. It highlights the complexities and contradictions that often characterize his public persona and political strategies.
His presence on the platform is likely to attract significant attention and may influence the digital landscape as the 2024 presidential election approaches.
This move by Trump underscores the evolving dynamics of social media and politics. Despite his previous attempts to shut down TikTok, his participation on the platform demonstrates its growing influence and the necessity for political figures to engage with diverse digital audiences.
As the election season heats up, Trump’s TikTok activity will undoubtedly be closely watched, providing a new avenue for his outreach efforts and campaign strategies.