Headline Roundup June 3, 2024
Trump Campaign Launches TikTok Account
Summary from the AllSides News Team
Former President Donald Trump launched an official account on the popular video-sharing app TikTok over the weekend.
The Details: Trump's first post on TikTok features several video clips of him at an Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) show in Newark, New Jersey. A day after the account was made, the TikTok account @realdonaldtrump had amassed over 4.2 million followers — much more than the 348.2 thousand following the Biden campaign’s @bidenhq account.
For Context: While President Joe Biden signed a bill giving TikTok six months to sell or be banned in U.S. app stores, Trump also tried to ban the app when he was president. As the 2024 presidential elections approach, however, both politicians are trying to connect with younger voters who use TikTok. Trump recently changed his tune on banning the app, saying a ban would empower Facebook, which he labeled an “enemy of the people.”
How The Media Covered It: Coverage across the spectrum noted the Trump account’s rapid follower growth. Right-rated outlets in particular leaned into this angle, with Fox News (Right bias) noting, “There are roughly twice as many pro-Trump TikTok posts compared to Biden, according to recent analysis.” On the other hand, many left-rated outlets contrasted Trump’s new account with his previous push to ban the app. Thus, media coverage framed Trump as either popular or hypocritical, playing to partisan audiences’ expectations. This summary was developed with the help of AllSides' AI technology.
Featured Coverage of this Story
Getty Images
Donald Trump has joined TikTok, despite attempting to ban it on national security grounds during his presidency.
In 2020 he signed a presidential executive order attempting to ban the platform for its links to China, which was ultimately blocked by US courts.
He has since criticised recent attempts to curtail it, saying this would empower Facebook-owner Meta.
Mr Trump, who has amassed more than 3.6 million followers since launching his account on Saturday, said he will use "every tool available to speak directly with the American people".
President Joe Biden...
Getty Images
Journalists and commentators responded to former President Trump's surprise decision to create a TikTok account, quickly eclipsing President Biden's presence on the platform.
"Donald Trump joining TikTok is going to be huge, you watch," former Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage posted to X on Sunday. "Gen Z are crying out for leadership."
As of Monday afternoon, Trump had over 4 million followers after posting his first video Saturday night. Biden, who created an account four months prior, had roughly 347,000 followers.
"Trump has (unsurprisingly) joined tiktok," ex-social media producer for Sen....
Jack Gruber / USA TODAY NETWORK
Former President and presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump joined TikTok, posting a debut video Saturday from a UFC fight.
"The President, is now on TikTok," UFC president Dana White said standing next to Trump.
"It's my honor," Trump responded, before the video sliced together shots of him and the crowd at the match in Newark, New Jerse.
Although Pew research shows an increasing number of young people get their news from the short form video app, TikTok is a politically complicated topic. Trump unsuccessfully tried to ban TikTok though executive action in 2020. President Joe Biden signed a law in April...
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