News

Biden Joins TikTok Ahead Of 2024 Election

US President Joe Biden belatedly joined TikTok on Sunday, marking his debut on the social media platform with a 26-second video.

 

The move comes after fierce US government criticism of the video-sharing platform in recent years, most notably from Republicans but also from the Biden administration.

TikTok is owned by Chinese firm ByteDance and has been accused by a wide swath of US politicians of being a propaganda tool used by Beijing, something the company furiously denies.

In Sunday’s video posted on the @bidenhq campaign account, the 81-year-old Democratic president touches light-heartedly on topics ranging from politics to the NFL championship game.

 

Asked his preference between the Super Bowl or its famed half-time show, this year headlined by singer Usher, he picks watching the actual game itself.

Queried if there’s a secret plot to rig the game so that pop star Taylor Swift — who is dating Kansas City Chiefs star Travis Kelce — could use her fame to endorse Biden, the president jokingly leans into the unfounded right-wing conspiracy theory.

“I’d get in trouble if I told you,” he says.

Citing security concerns, a slew of individual states and the federal government have banned the app on official government devices.

 

In Montana, a state government move to completely ban the app was recently blocked by a judge.

While the platform remains scrutinized by Washington, further federal action to ban or curtail use of the app appears to no longer be in motion.

“It seems now like the idea of a ban was being pushed more so to make political points and less as a serious effort to legislate,” David Greene, a civil liberties attorney, recently told British newspaper The Guardian.

As the election approaches, the platform provides a conduit to young voters.

Sunday’s video ends with the president being asked who he prefers: himself or Republican frontrunner Donald Trump.

“Are you kidding?” he laughs. “Biden.”

 

AFP

GLAMTUSH

Recent Posts

PHOTOS: Davido Receives Luxury Car From Auto Firm For 32nd Birthday

Davido has received a luxury car from an auto firm for his 32nd birthday.  …

16 hours ago

VIDEO: How Primate Ayodele Foretold Simon Ekpa’s Arrest In 2023

Simon Ekpa, a Finnish-Nigerian separatist agitator and self-proclaimed Prime Minister of the Biafra Republic Government…

17 hours ago

Speaker Obasa Clarifies Negative Perceptions As Sanwo-Olu Presents 2025 Budget

Accuses detractors of peddling news of alleged governorship ambition.   Speaker of the Lagos State…

17 hours ago

Simon Ekpa, Four Others Arrested In Finland Over Terrorism Activities

Simon Ekpa and four others have been arrested in Finland over terrorism activities.   Glamtush…

21 hours ago

Davido Celebrates 32nd Birthday With ₦300m Donation To Orphanages

Davido is excited to celebrate his 32nd birthday with a ₦300m donation to orphanages.  …

23 hours ago

America Returnee Found Dead In Ogun Hotel

An American returnee has been found dead in an Ogun hotel.   Glamtush reports that…

23 hours ago