Trump Campaign Launches TikTok Account

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.