Key points
- The White House launched an official TikTok account (@whitehouse) to reach over 170 million US users.
- President Trump credits TikTok with boosting his support among young voters in the 2024 election.
- National security concerns exist regarding potential Chinese government access to US user data.
- The Trump administration aims to leverage TikTok to communicate its successes to a wider audience.
The White House officially joined TikTok on Tuesday, launching the account @whitehouse to disseminate President Donald Trump’s messages directly to the platform’s vast US user base. This move comes after Trump’s successful 2024 presidential campaign, where he attributed a significant portion of his youth support to his effective use of the short-form video app.
The new account debuted with a video showcasing Trump declaring, “I am your voice,” accompanied by the caption, “America we are BACK! What’s up TikTok?”
However, the White House’s foray into TikTok is not without controversy. Concerns persist in Washington regarding potential access to US user data by the Chinese government, given TikTok’s Chinese parent company, ByteDance.
Past intelligence assessments have raised alarms about ByteDance’s ties to the Chinese government and the possibility of TikTok being used for influence operations within the US. President Trump has been working towards a deal to facilitate the purchase of TikTok’s US operations by American investors.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt defended the decision, stating that the Trump administration is committed to reaching diverse audiences. She highlighted the success of President Trump’s previous TikTok campaign presence and expressed excitement about expanding the administration’s communication strategy.
The @realdonaldtrump account, used during the 2024 campaign, amassed over 15 million followers, demonstrating the platform’s potential reach.
Despite the administration’s enthusiasm, the decision has been met with criticism. A 2024 law mandated TikTok’s cessation of US operations unless ByteDance divested its US assets or made substantial progress towards a sale by January 19th of this year.
President Trump, however, has repeatedly extended the deadline, drawing criticism from lawmakers worried about national security implications and accusations of the administration flouting the law. These extensions, initially to April, then June, and most recently to September, fuel ongoing concerns regarding the administration’s handling of the TikTok situation.
