Trump launches official White House TikTok account despite federal ban law
The @WhiteHouse account's first post featured video clips of Trump at recent events set to dramatic music, echoing a viral TikTok trend that paired footage from the movie Creed with a track by rapper Kendrick Lamar.
The move marks a sharp reversal for Trump, who tried to ban TikTok during his first term in office. He opened a personal account in mid-2024 to court younger voters, amassing a large following. His last personal post was on Election Day in November.
'President Trump's message dominated TikTok during his presidential campaign,' White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said in a statement. 'We're excited to build on that success and communicate in a way no other administration has before.'
TikTok's future in the US remains uncertain under a 2024 law that requires app stores and cloud providers to block the app unless Chinese parent company ByteDance sells it to a non-Chinese buyer. Lawmakers cited national security risks, warning Beijing could access US user data or manipulate content.
The statute allows only limited 90-day extensions if there is 'significant progress' toward a sale. Trump, however, has repeatedly issued additional reprieves since taking office in January, giving TikTok until mid-September to find a new owner. Another extension remains possible.
Trump's allies and some TikTok executives have lobbied to keep the app operating in the US, arguing it is a vital political and cultural platform. The White House's new account signals the administration sees value in directly engaging TikTok's younger user base despite the bipartisan push in Congress to force a divestiture.
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