In a matter of days since launching his TikTok account, former President Donald Trump has amassed a staggering 5 million followers and 5.2 million likes, dwarfing the Biden campaign’s account, which has around 355,000 followers and 4.6 million likes. Trump’s debut post, featuring his attendance at the UFC 302 event in Newark, New Jersey, has garnered an impressive 63 million views, six times the viewership of the Biden campaign’s first post from four months ago.
The Trump campaign has touted the former president’s popularity on the platform as evidence of his growing support among younger voters, with campaign spokesman Steven Cheung stating, “Team Trump will leave no front undefended and President Trump’s viral TikTok account is another step in our continued outreach to the American people, especially young voters, who he has significantly gained ground with against Crooked Joe Biden.”
Differing Strategies and Concerns Surrounding TikTok
While Trump has embraced TikTok as a means to connect with younger voters, the Biden administration has expressed reservations about the platform. At the time of the Biden campaign’s TikTok launch, National Security Council spokesman John Kirby noted that the administration still had “national security concerns” about the use of TikTok.
Moreover, the nature of the two accounts differs significantly. Pro-Biden TikTok creator and “Gen Z activist” Harry Sisson pointed out that Trump is using his well-known username “realDonaldTrump,” whereas the Biden campaign’s account, @BidenHQ, may not be as recognizable to many Americans. Sisson suggested that if Biden were to create a personal account where he himself posted content, it would be a different story.
The Battle for the Gen Z Vote
The success of Trump’s TikTok account has reignited the debate over which candidate will capture the hearts and minds of younger, Generation Z voters in the upcoming election. While Biden won 60% of voters under 30 in 2020, according to polling data, the Trump campaign sees the former president’s sizable TikTok following as a sign that he is gaining ground with this demographic.
However, Sisson dismissed the notion that Trump’s TikTok popularity is indicative of his ability to win over swing voters or college students concerned about issues such as reproductive rights and student loan debt. He speculated that many of Trump’s 4.5 million followers are likely already ardent supporters. Nonetheless, an internal analysis within TikTok reported by The New York Times found nearly twice as many pro-Trump posts as pro-Biden ones on the platform since November, suggesting that the battle for the Gen Z vote on TikTok is far from over.
A Shift in Stance by Trump: From Banning to Embracing TikTok
In a surprising turn of events, former President Donald has joined TikTok, a platform he once vehemently criticized and attempted to ban during his first term. Donald’s executive order in 2020, just three months before the election, aimed to ban TikTok in the United States due to national security concerns. However, the courts ultimately thwarted his efforts.
Fast forward to the current election cycle, and Donald has emerged as a chief critic of President Joe Biden’s stance on TikTok. As Biden prepared to sign legislation that could potentially lead to a U.S. ban on the app, Trump took to Truth Social, accusing Biden of banning TikTok to help his friends at Facebook become richer and more dominant. This marked a significant shift in Trump’s position on the popular video-sharing platform.
Trump’s Tumultuous History with Social Media Platforms
Trump’s relationship with mainstream social media platforms has been tumultuous. In January 2021, following his posts that preceded the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol, Donald was suspended from both Facebook and Twitter (now X). As a result, he primarily used his own social media platform, Truth Social, to share content.
However, in the last two years, Donald has been reinstated on these platforms. In the lead-up to the November election, he has resumed regularly posting on Facebook, although he has only posted once on X since his reinstatement. This return to mainstream social media, coupled with his embrace of TikTok, showcases Trump’s evolving strategy to reach a wider audience.
The Importance of TikTok in the 2024 Election
Recent data highlights the significance of TikTok in the upcoming election. According to an NBC News poll, 11% of all voters between the ages of 18-34 use TikTok at least once a day. While this cohort leans Democratic, in a hypothetical general election matchup, these young voters narrowly favored Donald over Biden, 44% to 42%.
The Biden campaign has been working to counter this trend by increasing its presence on the app. Since launching its TikTok page in February, the campaign has posted over 200 videos, featuring both Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris speaking directly to the camera. Prior to Donald joining the platform, the Biden campaign’s account was among the largest associated with presidential candidates, surpassing a super PAC supporting Trump.
Trump’s presence on TikTok has already impacted the reception of the Biden campaign’s content. A recent post by the Biden campaign, amplifying a claim by a former producer of “The Apprentice” alleging that Donald once used a racial slur, garnered more than 1.2 million views in less than 12 hours. However, many comments under the post highlight the growing number of followers on Donald’s TikTok account, demonstrating the influence of his presence on the platform.
As the 2024 election approaches, TikTok is poised to play a crucial role in shaping the political landscape. Trump’s embrace of the platform, despite his previous stance, underscores the importance of reaching young voters where they are most active. The battle for the youth vote on TikTok is set to be a key factor in determining the outcome of the upcoming election.
