Trump Takes Office, and the TikTok Roller Coaster
On January 20, 2017, Donald Trump was sworn in as the 45th President of the United States, marking the beginning of a tumultuous four years in American politics. Throughout his time in office, Trump made headlines for his controversial policies, divisive rhetoric, and unconventional approach to governance. One of the many issues that garnered attention during his presidency was the ongoing saga surrounding the popular social media platform TikTok.
TikTok, a video-sharing app owned by the Chinese company ByteDance, quickly rose to prominence in the United States, particularly among younger generations. With its short-form videos, catchy challenges, and viral trends, TikTok became a cultural phenomenon, attracting millions of users and generating massive amounts of revenue.
However, TikTok’s ties to China raised concerns among U.S. lawmakers and officials, who feared that the app could be used to collect sensitive data on American users and potentially pose a national security threat. In response to these concerns, the Trump administration took action to address the issue.
In August 2020, Trump signed an executive order that effectively banned TikTok from operating in the United States, citing national security concerns. The order set off a firestorm of controversy, with TikTok users and supporters rallying against the ban and calling for the app to be saved.
In the months that followed, TikTok’s fate remained uncertain as negotiations between ByteDance and various U.S. companies, including Microsoft and Oracle, sought to find a solution that would satisfy both the Trump administration and TikTok’s users. Ultimately, a deal was reached in September 2020 that would see Oracle and Walmart acquire a stake in a new U.S.-based entity called TikTok Global, effectively allowing the app to continue operating in the United States.
The roller coaster ride for TikTok did not end there, however. In the final days of Trump’s presidency, the administration made a last-ditch effort to block the deal, raising questions about the future of TikTok in the United States once again. As Trump left office and Joe Biden took over as President, the fate of TikTok remained uncertain, with many wondering what the new administration’s stance on the app would be.
As the Biden administration settles into office, the TikTok roller coaster continues, with ongoing debates about data privacy, national security, and the role of social media in American society. The saga of TikTok under Trump’s presidency serves as a reminder of the complex and ever-evolving relationship between technology, politics, and the public interest. Only time will tell what the future holds for TikTok and its millions of users in the United States and around the world.