The White House made its official debut on TikTok on Tuesday, launching a new account despite the platform’s uncertain future in the United States under a sale-or-ban deadline imposed by the Trump administration.
The first video from the administration’s new TikTok account was captioned: “America, we are BACK! What’s up TikTok?” The 27-second clip quickly gained traction, attracting around 4,500 followers within the first hour of being posted.
Owned by the Chinese technology giant ByteDance, TikTok remains a central point of a heated political debate in Washington concerning national security risks and foreign influence.
Trump’s Shifting Stance on TikTok
A law passed in 2023 required TikTok to either be sold to a non-Chinese buyer or face a nationwide ban in the U.S. on national security grounds. The original deadline was set for January 19, 2025—just before Donald Trump’s inauguration.
However, since his return to the presidency, Trump has postponed the decision. In mid-June, he granted TikTok another 90 days to find a buyer, setting the new deadline for mid-September.
Trump, who was once a vocal advocate for a ban, changed his position during his 2024 campaign after realizing that TikTok’s massive user base, particularly among young voters, could enhance his electoral prospects.
Social Media Strategy in Focus
TikTok is one of the world’s largest social media platforms, boasting nearly two billion global users. Trump’s own personal TikTok account has 110.1 million followers, though his last post was on Election Day, November 5, 2024.
In comparison, his X (formerly Twitter) account has 108.5 million followers, and his own platform, Truth Social, has 10.6 million.
The official White House accounts on other platforms have more modest followings: 2.4 million on X and 9.3 million on Instagram.
What Happens Next?
The Biden administration’s decision to launch a TikTok account highlights just how deeply integrated the app has become in American politics and digital communication. Still, its long-term future in the U.S. depends on Trump’s final decision when the September deadline arrives.
Until then, TikTok will continue to be both a powerful political tool and a subject of intense scrutiny.
