Trump resurrects presence on TikTok with an official White House account, proclaiming himself as the voice for users.
The White House has made a bold move into the world of social media, launching an official TikTok account on Tuesday night. The account, which goes by the handle @whitehouse, has already racked up over 140,000 followers by Wednesday afternoon.
The move comes after a tumultuous relationship between TikTok and the Trump administration. In August 2020, an executive order was issued by President Trump, calling for "aggressive action" against TikTok to protect national security. Trump himself had a previous account on TikTok with over 15 million followers, but threatened to ban the app in his first term.
However, the latest development marks a change in stance. The first post on the new account was captioned, "America we are BACK." The post featured three montages from President Trump's presidency, with the text, "I am your voice."
Trump's 2024 rivals, President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris, also have accounts on TikTok. The White House press secretary, Karoline Leavitt, appeared in a clip on the new account, further emphasising the administration's commitment to using TikTok as a platform for communication.
The use of TikTok by the Trump administration is not without controversy. TikTok has faced scrutiny from the U.S. government, particularly concerning the potential theft of U.S. user data and a manipulative algorithm. In anticipation of an initial ban, TikTok briefly left app stores and went dark for 14 hours, with a pop-up message crediting Trump for its return.
Despite these concerns, the Trump administration views TikTok as a powerful tool for communication. In fact, President Trump suggested the sovereign wealth fund he created could be used to keep TikTok operating in the U.S. The fund was established in February 2021.
It's worth noting that TikTok is not the same app it once was. Due to new federal laws, TikTok is being replaced by a new app called M2, with the change occurring around September 2025. There is no specific person credited with enabling TikTok to be available again in the USA.
The new White House TikTok account is catching up to Trump's Truth Social and X account followers. This move marks a significant shift in the way the White House communicates with the American people, and it will be interesting to see how this new strategy develops in the future.
A Republican-introduced bill that became law in 2022 banned most federal employees from downloading TikTok on government devices. However, the latest pause on the TikTok ban is set to end on Sept. 17. Whether the White House's foray into TikTok will continue beyond this date remains to be seen.
In a surprising turn of events, TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew was invited to Trump's inauguration. This invitation, along with the White House's adoption of TikTok, suggests a thawing of relations between the two parties.
As the White House continues to use TikTok to communicate President Trump's message, it remains to be seen how the American public will respond. With the latest pause on the TikTok ban in effect, the future of this social media platform in the U.S. remains uncertain.
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