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The internet erupted with sharp commentary and viral memes following President-elect Donald Trump's recent remarks, where he unexpectedly admitted to having a soft spot for TikTok.
During a press conference on December 16, 2024, the President-elect remarked that he has a "warm spot" for TikTok, suggesting that the platform had earned him favor among younger voters.
According to CNN, this statement came after TikTok CEO Shou Chew met Donald Trump at the Mar-a-Lago club in early December 2024 and discussed the platform's potential ban in the United States.
The statement quickly ignited reactions on social media, particularly on X, where people expressed strong opinions. Many criticized the President-elect, accusing him of pandering to younger demographics for political gain.
"Trump goes whichever way the wind blows," one commented.
Some speculated that the President-elect's acknowledgment of TikTok's appeal to youth implies a willingness to overlook potential security concerns and the platform's perceived political risks.
"This reeks of "because it helped me, let's ignore its potential harms to others." It seems fair to say this will be a common them for the incoming administration," a user on X commented.
"NARRATOR: He did not win "youth" by 34 pts," another commented.
"Every time Trump opens his mouth, something stupid comes out," a third on X commented.
Others voiced frustration, pointing out that the President-elect appears to reverse or soften his stance only after understanding an issue more thoroughly.
"Nice to have a President that once he understands something he changes his original stance," a user on X commented.
"So …. No ban," a netizen commented.
"And there you go, folks. Trump caves to Xi. Again," one more on X commented.
As of now, the President-elect has neither responded to the online backlash nor addressed the growing frustration among netizens on social media.
President-elect Donald Trump speaks out on TikTok and his support for the platform
In early December 2024, TikTok CEO Shou Chew met Donald Trump in the first scheduled meeting since the latter's victory in the presidential election.
CEO Shou Chew had been seeking to meet with Trump for an extended period. During the meeting, Chew aimed to discuss the potential ban on the TikTok app and to ask the Supreme Court to intervene in the legal battle over the app's use in the United States, proposing a temporary block instead.
During a press conference on December 16, 2024, the President-elect was asked about the possible TikTok ban. The Republican expressed admiration for the platform, noting that he had won the youth vote by 34 points. He suggested that TikTok likely played a significant role in this success,
"You know, I have a warm spot in my heart for TikTok because I won youth by 34 points and there are those that say that TikTok has something to do with it," the President-elect said.
Furthermore, the President-elect shared a moment with his son, Barron Trump, regarding the impact of TikTok, ultimately suggesting that they are considering a potential ban on the Chinese app.
"Now, Joe Rogan did, and some other people recommended by my son, Barron... We did but it did not had an impact, but TikTok had an impact so we are taking a look at it," the President-elect said.
The ban, slated for January 19, refers to the Protecting Americans From Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act, which Congress passed in April 2024. This act would prohibit TikTok from entering the United States due to national security concerns.
According to the Constitution Center, the ban could be lifted only if TikTok's parent company, ByteDance Ltd., divested its ownership of the app's US version.
No final decisions have been made yet. The President-elect is officially set to return to the White House in January 2025, and the CEO of the Chinese app has not yet commented on Trump's expressed admiration for TikTok.
