Donald Trump, who previously attempted to outlaw TikTok during his presidency, has now created an account on the widely used video-sharing app. Just two days after being convicted on felony charges, making him the first ex-president and likely major party candidate in U.S. history to face such a verdict, he shared a post from a UFC event.
“It’s a privilege,” Trump remarked in a TikTok video that shows clips of him greeting supporters and taking selfies at the Ultimate Fighting Championship event in Newark, New Jersey, last Saturday night. The video concludes with Trump addressing the camera: “That was a nice entrance, don’t you think?”
By Sunday morning, Trump had gained over 1.1 million followers on the platform, with his post receiving upwards of 1 million likes and being viewed 24 million times.
“We won’t leave any area unprotected, and this move shows our ongoing effort to connect with younger viewers who are engaging with pro-Trump and anti-Biden material,” stated Steven Cheung, a spokesman for Trump, regarding the campaign’s choice to join the platform.
“There’s no better venue than a UFC event to introduce President Trump’s TikTok account, where he was warmly received and cheered by thousands of supporters,” he mentioned.
In April, President Joe Biden of the Democratic Party approved a law that might prohibit TikTok in the United States. Despite this, his campaign began collaborating with influencers and joined TikTok in February.