White House starts TikTok account as platform in US legal limbo
Trump’s personal account on the popular video-sharing app has 110.1 million followers
Add BT as a preferred source
DeeperDive is a beta AI feature. Refer to full articles for the facts.
[WASHINGTON] The White House launched a TikTok account on Tuesday (Aug 19), as US President Donald Trump continues to permit the Chinese-owned platform to operate in the United States despite a law requiring its sale.
“America, we are back! What’s up TikTok?” read a caption on the account’s first post on the popular video sharing app, a 27-second clip.
The account had about 4,500 followers an hour after posting the video. Trump’s personal account on TikTok, meanwhile, has 110.1 million followers, though his last post was on Nov 5, 2024, Election Day.
TikTok is owned by China-based Internet company ByteDance.
A federal law requiring TikTok’s sale or ban on national security grounds was due to take effect the day before Trump’s inauguration on Jan 20.
But the Republican, whose 2024 election campaign relied heavily on social media and who has said that he is fond of TikTok, put the ban on pause.
Navigate Asia in
a new global order
Get the insights delivered to your inbox.
In mid-June, Trump extended a deadline for the popular video-sharing app by another 90 days to find a non-Chinese buyer or be banned in the United States.
That extension is due to expire in mid-September.
While Trump had long supported a ban or divestment, he reversed his position and vowed to defend the platform, which boasts almost two billion global users, after coming to believe it helped him win young voters’ support in the November election.
Trump’s official account on X, formerly Twitter, has 108.5 million followers – though his favoured social media outlet is Truth Social, which he owns, where he has 10.6 million followers.
The official White House accounts on X and Instagram have 2.4 million and 9.3 million followers, respectively. AFP
Decoding Asia newsletter: your guide to navigating Asia in a new global order. Sign up here to get Decoding Asia newsletter. Delivered to your inbox. Free.
Share with us your feedback on BT's products and services
TRENDING NOW
‘Boring’ is the new black: The stars are aligning for a Singapore stock market revival
Near sell-out launches in March boost developer sales to 1,300 units after four slow months
China pips the US if Asean is forced to choose, but analysts warn against reading it like a sports result
Genting Singapore’s Lim Kok Thay receives S$7.5 million pay package for FY2025
