TikTok welcomes the White House, sparking widespread criticism online

The White House has taken an unexpected turn in its communication strategy, with the introduction of an official TikTok account. The account, which was created during the 2024 presidential election campaign, is a platform for the Trump administration to communicate President Trump's successes to a younger demographic.

The account, run by White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt, has been active since the restoration of TikTok for its 170 million US users, following President Trump's second term inauguration on January 20. The first video posted declared, "America we are BACK! What's up TikTok?"

However, the move has not been without controversy. Critics have expressed concern over the Chinese-owned app's presence in the White House, particularly in light of national security issues. The initial ban of TikTok in the US over such concerns was lifted due to repeated extensions of grace periods, despite legal hurdles and absent a sale of TikTok's US business.

TikTok has stated that the company is fully independent and has not provided user data to the Chinese government, nor would it if asked. Despite these assurances, questions remain about the app's security and its potential for data breaches.

President Trump, who is one of the users on the White House TikTok account, has 15.1 million followers as of writing. The account has posted 10 videos, including clips of press conferences and behind-the-scenes moments. However, the account has faced criticism from users, particularly regarding national security and the Epstein files.

One user asked, "Why is the government joining a previously deemed national security threat?" Another user questioned, "Why aren't the Epstein files being released?" These questions reflect the concerns of many who are sceptical about the presence of TikTok in the White House.

As of writing, the White House TikTok account has over 243,000 followers. The administration is excited to build upon the successes of President Trump's TikTok presence during his presidential campaign, seeing it as a useful tool for reaching young voters. However, the controversy surrounding the account is unlikely to dissipate anytime soon.