Latest news with #DonaldTrump-friendly
The Guardian
04-04-2025
- Business
- The Guardian
TikTok ban deadline looms amid last-minute takeover bids
Once again, the future of TikTok in the US is at stake. After a years-long tussle over whether or not to ban the app in the country, the deadline for the company to divest or sell its assets to a non-Chinese owner is up again on 5 April. A handful of potential buyers have said they're interested in the tremendously popular social media app and various news reports have floated other types of deals, including an investment from the Donald Trump-friendly venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz or a bid from Amazon. Trump signed an executive order in January to postpone a ban-or-divest deadline until April; earlier this week he said he would 'like to see TikTok remain alive'. But the path forward for TikTok, and its 170 million US users, remains murky. ByteDance, the Chinese company that owns TikTok, has said it has no plans to sell the app and in court filings said that divestiture 'is simply not possible: not commercially, not technologically, not legally'. ByteDance and TikTok did not return requests for comment. The idea of banning TikTok originated with Trump in 2020, who said the Chinese-owned app posed a danger to national security. It quickly became a bipartisan issue and Congress overwhelmingly voted to ban the app last year. In January, the US supreme court sided with Congress and unanimously upheld a federal law requiring TikTok divest or be banned. The deadline was initially set for 19 January. The night before the deadline, TikTok shuttered the app with a message that read: 'Sorry, TikTok isn't available right now.' Apple and Google also removed it from their app stores, because under the federal law they would be penalized for distributing it. In its message, the social media company said: 'We are fortunate that President Trump has indicated that he will work with us on a solution to reinstate TikTok once he takes office. Please stay tuned!' On 20 January, Trump's first day in office, he issued the executive order that extended the ban-or-divest deadline by 75 days. Now that cutoff date is looming. While initially proposing to ban TikTok, Trump made an about-face last year while campaigning for president, having joined the app and amassed millions of followers. In September, he posted to his Truth Social account 'FOR ALL THOSE THAT WANT TO SAVE TIK TOK IN AMERICA, VOTE TRUMP!' Since then, he's been working to make good on that pledge. On Tuesday, CBS reported that Trump has been considering final proposals for TikTok. Those include plans from a long list of investors in the private equity, venture capital and tech industries. Among those investors are asset manager Blackstone, business software company Oracle, e-commerce giant Amazon, a crypto foundation and the founder of OnlyFans. Oracle is reportedly leading a coalition bid with several investors, including Andreessen Horowitz, according to the FT. Sign up to TechScape A weekly dive in to how technology is shaping our lives after newsletter promotion Oracle, which was co-founded by Trump ally Larry Ellison, has been looking to buy a lucrative stake in TikTok for years. The software company already houses all of TikTok's US user data on its cloud infrastructure platform, a deal that came about in 2022 to address security concerns. 'It is highly unlikely that TikTok will go dark again. All signs point to a deal or another extension,' said Kelsey Chickering, a principal analyst for Forrester. 'If TikTok divests in the US, the real question is whether its algorithm comes with the sale. TikTok without its algorithm is like Harry Potter without his wand – it's simply not as powerful.'
Euronews
27-02-2025
- Politics
- Euronews
Emmanuel Macron, the (social media) king of Europe
Images of Emmanuel Macron's White House meeting with Donald Trump this week were Instagrammed by the Elysee under the title "Everything is possible, so let's do it together!", clearly signalling the French president's seizure of prime spot as Europe chief interlocutor with the US president. Images of Emmanuel Macron skilfully negotiating tough questions from less-than-friendly US outlet Fox News this week went viral on social media - not least because he posted them himself on his official X account. In the interview, the French president deftly navigated tricky topics while making sharp remarks about Donald Trump's ambiguous relationship with Russia. "I'm relaxed: It's normal that when the US discusses with Russia, I'm not at the table," he quipped, a remark younger generations might describe as 'trolling' the US President. By sharing the entire clip of the Fox News interview on Elon Musk's X, Macron simultaneously addressed the American audience of the Donald Trump-friendly US right-wing network and his domestic and global public as well. His message to Europeans watching was unambiguous: this is how you deal with the US president and his establishment, by making it clear when something isn't in Europe's best interest. 'There is certainly an attempt by Macron to assert himself on the international stage, which is evident in the way he has amplified his interactions with Trump on social media,' pollster Lorenzo Pregliasco from Youtrend told Euronews. The expert added that Macron's goal appears to be positioning himself as the sole representative of Europe—the one leader who, despite domestic challenges, or perhaps precisely because of them, is seeking to carve out an international leadership role. Pioneering style Macron's strategic use of social media has been a hallmark of his presidency, making him a role model for digital political communication. "Macron uses social media to reinforce his geopolitical influence, blending soft power to boost his popularity with the hard power of leading the EU's only nuclear state," noted Julien Hoez, editor of the political newsletter French Dispatch. "It helps that Macron has a distinct personality, which he leverages to connect with younger audiences, incorporating cultural references that transcend age groups," Hoez continued. Since his first presidential campaign in 2017, Macron has embraced non-traditional media. At that time, he participated in a Q&A session on Snapchat —then the most popular platform among teenagers—engaging with students on topics ranging from sports to relationships. In an eye-catching moment, he counselled one student with a crush on his teacher, a topic he understands personally, given that he met his wife Brigitte Trogneux as a 15-year-old student when she was a teacher 24 years his senior. "First, you need to know if the feeling is mutual. If it is, go ahead - no need for taboos. If it's not, take some time to reflect and ask yourself questions," Macron advised. His direct, informal communication style suits social media—like when he literally put his boxing gloves on to show his readiness for the Olympic Games. Rather than relying solely on conventional media outlets such as newspapers and TV, he shares content on his platforms adapting the content to the different audience and ensuring that no topic is off-limits. Last week, he hosted a one-hour YouTube livestream discussing Russia's war in Ukraine and Europe's role; last summer, he commented on TikTok about football star Kylian Mbappé's transfer from PSG to Real Madrid. His reach extends beyond France, frequently using other languages, for instance, on the sidelines of visiting or hosting global leaders like Trump or current German Chancellor Olaf Scholz. Europe's TikTok king A striking aspect of Macron's digital presence is his dominance on TikTok, a platform native to Gen Z. With over 5.2 million followers, he is the most-followed EU leader and one of the world's most influential sitting heads of state - trailing only Donald Trump and Brazil's Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. By contrast, the second-most followed EU leader, Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni, maintains a more traditional presence with her 2.2 million followers, featuring clips from press conferences and diplomatic handshakes. Conversely, Macron fully embraces TikTok culture, engaging with trends and interacting directly with users with a style that is adaptive, conversational, and tailored to the digital age. For instance, when disability rights activists raised concerns about government funding for wheelchairs, Macron responded directly with a video outlining his administration's plans. At the start of a major AI summit in Paris, he shared a deepfake video of himself transposed onto characters from TV shows and films, which quickly went viral. This wasn't just a meme, though; it was an attempt to humorously highlight AI's potential and more serious dangers. Understanding an internet-native audience While Macron engages with traditional media, he also ensures that he does not ignore internet-native platforms. Mcfly et Carlito and Hugo Décrypte's may not enjoy global recognition, but they are wildly popular in France, with 7.5 million and 3.22 million followers respectively on YouTube alone. In 2021, amid the COVID-19 crisis, Macron challenged the pair to create a video on public health measures, rewarding them by appearing in a subsequent video with no political content - marking a first for a French president. The 36-minute clip, featuring Macron engaging in lighthearted games, amassed over 20 million views just months before the 2022 election. Macron also frequently appears on Décrypte's channel, which he has used to discuss public school reforms and promote his party, Renaissance, ahead of European elections. Last week, in advance of meeting Trump, he shared his thoughts on French-US relations with Décrypte rather than via an interview with traditional media. Risks of social media politics Macron's social media strategy has been largely successful, but there have been hitches along the way. In a back-to-school video aimed at young audiences, he held up portraits of Mcfly et Carlito before pivoting to a tribute to Samuel Paty, the teacher who was beheaded in 2020 for showing cartoons of Mohammed to his students. The abrupt shift in tone drew criticism, with opposition figures quickly jumping on Macron's faux pas. "It is not just a communication mistake; it is an indecency from a head of state," French senator Valérie Boyer wrote on X. Moreover, despite his advocacy for digital engagement, Macron has faced backlash for considering restrictions on social media in extreme situations. During the 2023 summer riots - sparked by the police killing of a 17-year-old - the French government discussed suspending some functionalities of Snapchat and TikTok to prevent looting and violent protests. However, returning from his US trip burnishing his social media credentials, Macron is unlikely to be deterred from continuing to engage digitally. His confidence in interrupting Trump, touching the US president's arm and correcting him on Europe's aid to Ukraine, particularly struck pollster Lorenzo Pregliasco. 'The fact that Trump lets him get away with it is telling - it suggests a certain level of respect or at least curiosity that Trump seems to have toward Macron,' he said.
