On Tuesday, the White House made waves by joining TikTok, showcasing video snippets of President Donald Trump and his team in a bid to present them as clever and audacious leaders of America.
These dynamic clips, masterfully edited to create a captivating sizzle reel, feature Trump dismissing phone calls from Congress and making bold statements during a press conference. One standout video highlights Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt as she passionately responds to a New York Times reporter’s inquiry.
Despite ongoing legal challenges surrounding the app, TikTok has emerged as a crucial platform for political candidates and government entities to engage with their audiences. However, the White House’s presence on TikTok raises eyebrows, as federal guidelines previously prohibited government employees from using TikTok on official devices.
Interestingly, Trump himself initiated efforts to ban TikTok in the U.S. back in 2020, citing concerns over potential access to American user data by the Chinese Communist Party. However, during his second term, his stance has shifted. The Supreme Court upheld a ruling that bars TikTok unless sold to an American entity, yet Trump has consistently extended the sale deadline.
TechCrunch has reached out to TikTok for their perspective on this development.
The response to the White House’s TikTok videos has been mixed. As of Wednesday morning, all five videos uploaded have been inundated with negative comments, many highlighting the president’s controversial association with Jeffrey Epstein, a financier and convicted sex offender who passed away while awaiting trial.
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