President Donald Trump sought to appeal to "the young people of TikTok" on Monday, essentially suggesting that Gen Z ought to be t Relieved he ultimately did not act on his 2020 executive order banning their preferred social media platform. "To all the young TikTok users out there, I'm the reason you still have TikTok, so you're heavily indebted to me," declared Trump in a clip recorded in the Oval Office, marking his first public statement on the matter since the 2024 election. Work. And now, you're observing me in the Oval Office, and in the future, one of you will occupy this very desk, taking on responsibilities of a similar magnitude. Consume work similarly.
The prospect of a TikTok ban has garnered cross-party support over the last half-decade. Initially proposed by Trump during his initial term, this measure was enacted as a 2024 law signed by President Joe Biden, compelling TikTok to divest its U.S. Failure to comply will result in suspension. Over the past few weeks, Trump has made public a tentative agreement, the finalization of which is still awaiting approval, during ongoing discussions with Chinese President Xi Jinping. A group of billionaires with ties to Donald Trump, such as Larry Ellison, Rupert Murdoch, and Michael Dell, will oversee TikTok's operations in the United States. LINE_1]]
Trump’s TikTok pivot
In a significant shift, Donald Trump, who previously advocated strongly for a TikTok ban, has now issued an executive order permitting a US-based group to acquire the platform. Pursue and reorganize the application's U.S. Operations, thus avoiding its prohibition. The transaction is thought to be worth approximately $14 billion, a figure significantly lower than what analysts estimate TikTok's U.S. Businesses would command in a public sale. Trump's assertion of "saving TikTok" stems from his authorization of the agreement that allowed the app to continue operating in America, a decision he presently characterizes as a significant The application's largely youthful demographic is reflected in its design.
This turnaround highlights significant political adaptation, given TikTok's current dominance among users under 30 on social media, where [[IN LINE_0]], serving as an essential conduit for disseminating news, entertainment, and political dialogue. Those close to Trump's campaign have admitted to this strategic adoption, emphasizing the platform's significance in influencing young voters and indicating a fresh approach. Every strategy was designed for a demographic that historically leaned Republican.
For this story, Fortune generative AI assisted in creating an initial draft, which was then fact-checked by an editor prior to publication.