The Unlikely Rise of Donald Trump on TikTok
In a surprising turn of events, former President Donald Trump has joined TikTok, despite previously attempting to ban the platform on national security grounds during his presidency. This move has left many wondering what prompted this sudden change of heart.
Donald Trump’s first TikTok video has been viewed over 60 million times.
In 2020, Trump signed a presidential executive order attempting to ban TikTok due to its links to China, which was ultimately blocked by US courts. However, he has since criticized recent attempts to curtail the platform, arguing that it would empower Facebook-owner Meta.
Trump has stated that he will use “every tool available to speak directly with the American people” on TikTok, where he has already amassed over 3.6 million followers since launching his account on Saturday. This is in stark contrast to President Joe Biden, who has only gained 340,000 followers on the platform.
“TikTok alone is not decisive for the election, but it has been a great real-time sensor for cultural and social atmosphere.” - Marcus Bosch, researcher at Hamburg University of Applied Sciences
Trump’s sudden popularity on TikTok has been attributed to his potential to preserve the app in the face of a potential ban. This comes after President Biden signed into law a bill giving TikTok’s Chinese owner, ByteDance, nine months to divest the app or face a ban in the US.
TikTok’s fate hangs in the balance as the US government weighs its options.
Trump’s first TikTok video, a 13-second clip of him attending a mixed martial arts event, has been viewed over 60 million times. This has sparked speculation about his motives for joining the platform, particularly given his previous criticisms of TikTok.
“TikTok is not just a social media platform, it’s a cultural phenomenon.” - Karoline Leavitt, spokesperson for the Trump campaign
As the 2024 election approaches, Trump’s move to TikTok is seen as a strategic attempt to reach young voters. His campaign has stated that he has already gained significant ground with this demographic, and this is another way to reach them.
Trump’s campaign is banking on his TikTok presence to sway young voters.
Despite his newfound presence on TikTok, Trump’s past criticisms of the platform have not been forgotten. In an interview with CNBC in March, he acknowledged that the app posed a national security risk, but argued that a ban would strengthen Facebook as “an enemy of the people along with a lot of the media.”
As the election season heats up, Trump’s TikTok presence is likely to be a key factor in his campaign. Will he be able to leverage the platform to his advantage, or will his past criticisms come back to haunt him?
