Former US President Donald Trump has created a TikTok account and posted his first video on June 1, days after his conviction in ‘Hush Money’ trial.
The platform, which Trump had previously targeted for a ban during his presidency quoting national security concerns, featured his debut in a 13-second clip where he voiced it was an “honor” to join, recorded at the UFC 302 event.
Trump’s initial efforts to ban TikTok centered around fears that its parent company, Beijing-based ByteDance Ltd., posed a security risk.
In 2020, he issued an executive order demanding TikTok be sold to an American entity or face a ban, a move TikTok challenged as lacking due process.
This order was later thwarted by a federal court, and although President Joe Biden halted the aggressive policy after taking office, his administration has now enacted new legislation aiming for similar results.
The recent legislation, part of a significant foreign aid package supporting Israel and Ukraine, was passed in April 2024, giving ByteDance 270 days to sell TikTok or see it removed from US app stores.
TikTok’s CEO, Shou Zi Chew, has openly fought the legislation, pledging to fight against what he defines as a definitive ban. “Make no mistake, this is a ban, a ban on TikTok and a ban on you and your voice,” Chew stated in an April 24 TikTok.
He highlighted the disconnect between political statements and the legislative actions aimed at shutting down the platform.
