Amid ongoing uncertainty surrounding TikTok's future in the US, the White House launched its official TikTok account (@whitehouse) on Aug. 19, local time. The account's first post featured US President Donald Trump, who declared, "I am your voice." The post quickly gained attention, with many users questioning whether this was a White House initiative or a personal showcase for Trump.
Some American users criticized the account for appearing to promote Trump's personal image rather than governmental affairs. "This looks more like a presidential campaign MV," one user remarked.
Calls to release Epstein case files
The comment section of the post saw a wave of users demanding the release of files related to the Jeffrey Epstein case. One user wrote, "Our voice is screaming Release the Epstein files!" while others insinuated Trump's involvement in the case.
According to foreign media reports, Trump's name allegedly appeared in investigation documents tied to the late financier Jeffrey Epstein's sex-trafficking case. Earlier this year in May, Trump was reportedly informed of this during a meeting with the Department of Justice. Furthermore, US media outlets published images of Epstein's lavish mansion, featuring letters from high-profile figures, including Trump, as well as photos of Epstein with prominent politicians and celebrities.
While Trump has repeatedly denied any connection to Epstein, calls for transparency regarding the case remain persistent. In late July, some media outlets that reported on Trump's alleged ties to Epstein were reportedly barred from White House press briefings.
TikTok post gains 4,500 followers in an hour amid its uncertain future
The White House TikTok account amassed around 4,500 followers within an hour of its first post, swiftly gaining traction and sparking trending topics internationally. However, TikTok's position in the US remains precarious.
A federal law passed earlier this year requires TikTok's parent company, ByteDance, to sell its US assets by Jan. 19, 2024, or face a ban on the app's operations in the country. The deadline has already been postponed multiple times under Trump's second term, first to April, then to June 19, and now to Sept. 17.
It's worth noting that Trump's personal TikTok account (@realdonaldtrump), used for campaign purposes during last year's presidential election, has already amassed over 15 million followers. Media analysts credit his campaign's strong presence on platforms like TikTok for his significant appeal among younger voters, which played a key role in his electoral success.
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