Former President Donald Trump has joined TikTok, the rapidly growing social media platform with ties to China, which he had criticized during his presidency.
In his first post on the social network, which is filled with young potential voters, Trump posted a video after he attended an Ultimate Fighting Championship match in Newark, New Jersey, earlier in the evening. UFC CEO Dana White is featured in the video.
Trump directly addressed viewers in the post, expressing that it was an “honor” to be on the app. His message was accompanied by a montage of cheering UFC fans.
“The president is now on TikTok,” White said at the start of the video.
Trump’s account, which carries a verified badge, currently contains just that single post. His super PAC, MAGA Inc., previously joined the platform in May. The PAC’s CEO, Taylor Budowich, posted on X at the time, “MAGA INC will not cede any platform to Joe Biden and the Democrats who are trying to destroy our country. We will ensure President Trump’s America First agenda is brought to every corner of the internet and every precinct of this country.”
Trump’s decision to join TikTok highlights his recent change of heart regarding the platform, which is popular with 170 million users in the United States. Although TikTok is smaller than competitors like Instagram and Facebook, it is growing rapidly and has a younger user base.
During his presidency, Trump raised concerns about TikTok’s ties to China as part of his broader anti-China stance. He attempted to ban the app in the U.S. through executive order due to its connections to its Chinese parent company, ByteDance, which placed TikTok at the center of U.S.-China tensions.
President Joe Biden and many lawmakers have shared Trump’s concerns. Biden even signed legislation that would require TikTok to be sold to another company or face a ban. However, Trump now opposes a nationwide TikTok ban, arguing that such a policy would alienate young Americans and benefit Meta.
Supporters of TikTok, including the company itself, argue that the supposed national security risks are speculative and that there is no evidence of the Chinese government accessing U.S. users’ personal data.
Trump’s launch on TikTok on Saturday, just days after his New York criminal conviction, underscores his shift in perspective. As of Sunday morning, his TikTok account has amassed over 650,000 followers, and his launch video has been viewed more than 6 million times.
The Biden campaign also maintains a presence on TikTok and continues to post on the platform, despite the Biden administration’s support for a nationwide TikTok ban.
TikTok has filed a legal challenge against the law signed by Biden in April, which would ban the app unless it finds a new owner. Oral arguments for the case are scheduled for September.