Staff Reports
The self-proclaimed “TikTok whisperer,” President-elect Donald Trump, recently shared his surprisingly sentimental view of the controversial app. During a press conference at his Mar-a-Lago residence, he revealed that he has a “warm spot” in his heart for TikTok. This might raise a few eyebrows given the national security concerns associated with its Chinese ownership. One wonders if Trump is finding some kind of comfort in the app that seems to have captured the attention of the youth in a way that traditional media can only dream of.
He confidently stated that he managed to win the youth vote by a rather impressive 34 points, attributing some of that success to TikTok’s influence. Many might be asking themselves whether Trump really believes that a few dance challenges and viral challenges played a pivotal role in his electoral victory. The man knows how to work a crowd, especially the younger generation, and it seems he’s ready to make TikTok a part of his strategic toolkit moving forward.
With a potential ban looming on January 19, Trump did little to dispel the uncertainty during this latest press conference. When questioned about the impending restrictions, he indicated that he would “take a look” at the situation. This leaves much to be desired in terms of a definitive stance. After all, how often do politicians take a hard stance on certain issues and then walk it back when the pressure mounts? However, it does seem that Trump has figured out the art of playing both sides.
Trump says he has a ‘warm spot’ for TikTok, signals openness to stopping banhttps://t.co/l4HNYdHBst pic.twitter.com/mvH1FZcXJr
— The Washington Times (@WashTimes) December 17, 2024
He attributed some of his victory to engaging with popular podcast hosts, including the infamous Joe Rogan, and credited his son, Barron Trump, for guiding him on which platforms resonate well with the younger audience. Few can deny the power of social media influencers in shaping opinions, but one must wonder how many of these young voters are realizing they’re being puppeteered by their dad’s policies and social media whims.
Meanwhile, the battles surrounding TikTok rage on, with Congress mandating that its Chinese parent company, ByteDance, divest its holdings or face a ban. Just as the law got upheld earlier this month, TikTok has opted to appeal to the Supreme Court, which illustrates just how far this drama is from resolution. Whether Trump will actually save TikTok or let it fall victim to national security concerns remains to be seen, but it’s clear that this app, much like a game of hot potato, is about to get tossed around more than a viral trend on the app itself.
