Donald Trump Joins TikTok Amid Controversial History
Former US President Donald Trump has taken a surprising step by creating a TikTok account, despite his earlier efforts to ban the platform during his presidency. In a 13-second video posted Saturday evening, Trump is seen attending a Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) fight in Newark, New Jersey. Accompanied by UFC President Dana White, who announces his TikTok debut, Trump responds, 'It's an honor for me.'
Since the video was posted, Trump's TikTok account, @realDonaldTrump, has quickly gained traction, amassing over two million subscribers by midday Sunday. This move has come shortly after Trump's criminal conviction, showing no sign of distraction as he greets fans during the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) event.
Trump's presence on TikTok has sparked interest, gaining nearly four million views in just seven hours of its posting. Interestingly, his account subscribers have already doubled those of his rival, current US President Joe Biden. This rapid rise highlights the complicated relationship Trump has had with TikTok.
In 2020, during his presidency, Trump sought to ban TikTok, citing threats to national security and expressing concerns about the platform's Chinese parent company, ByteDance. However, federal courts blocked his attempts, arguing that such a ban infringed on freedom of expression. More recently, Trump modified his stance, claiming to want to protect TikTok in the US against competitors like Facebook.
His rival, President Joe Biden, enacted a law in April that gives ByteDance 12 months to divest from its Chinese ties or face a potential ban in the US. ByteDance has since filed a lawsuit contesting the law as unconstitutional. With 170 million users in the United States, TikTok's future remains uncertain.
- Trump's TikTok debut signifies a shift in his social media strategy, aiming to connect with younger demographics who heavily use the platform for information and entertainment.
- The legal battles over TikTok's operations in the US highlight ongoing concerns over data privacy and national security, reflecting broader tensions between the US and China.
