As Congress and the national security state continue their quest to ban the TikTok social media platform in the United States, President Joe Biden has been engaging with TikTok influencers to garner youth support for his reelection campaign. Despite the administration’s public stance on TikTok posing a security threat, the White House has been hosting influencers to promote pro-Biden content.
“Don’t jump, I need you!” Biden jokingly remarked to a group of TikTok influencers on the White House balcony before delivering his State of the Union speech earlier this year.
Visitor logs reveal that several prominent TikTok users with millions of followers have visited the White House in recent months, including:
- Jason Linton, known as @dadlifejason with 13.8 million followers.
- Michael Junchaya, also known as @mrgrandeofficial with 3.5 million followers.
- Mona Swain, known as @monaswain with 1.9 million followers.
- Alexandra Doten, known as @astro_alexandra with 2.3 million followers.
- Andrew Townsend, known as @andrewtowns with 3.1 million followers.
- Alex Pearlman, known as @pearlmania with 2.6 million followers.
- Josh Helfgott, known as @joshhelfgott with 5.5 million followers.
Oneya Johnson, a viral sensation with 27 million followers, also visited the White House but has since deleted his account following legal issues.
The meetings with these influencers were arranged by White House deputy director of partnerships, Morgan MacNaughton, who has a background in working with TikTok personalities. MacNaughton previously helped establish the group “TikTok for Biden” (now “Gen-Z for Change”).
In 2022, Palette, a social media talent management company represented by many of these TikTok users, received a payment from the Democratic National Committee for paid media. This initiative aimed to engage TikTok creators in the lead-up to the midterm elections.
Anita Dunn, senior adviser to the president, highlighted MacNaughton’s role in amplifying Biden’s message to diverse audiences. The White House’s Office of Digital Strategy praised MacNaughton’s contributions to their digital creator projects.
Despite the administration’s concerns about TikTok’s security implications, Biden’s engagement with TikTok influencers has been seen as a strategic move to connect with millions of Americans. This approach has faced criticism from some supporters who view it as contradictory to the national security rhetoric surrounding the app.
While the White House maintains restrictions on TikTok use on government devices, the Biden campaign has embraced the platform by creating an official account. This decision has raised concerns about sending mixed messages, especially regarding the proposed legislation to ban TikTok.
The campaign’s commitment to engaging with voters on TikTok remains firm, emphasizing the importance of meeting voters where they are, unless the app faces a ban.
Please rewrite the following sentence:
“Her enthusiasm for the project is contagious.”
Rewritten sentence:
“The project has a contagious effect on her enthusiasm.”
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