• The White House launched an official TikTok account just weeks before a potential ban.
• President Trump's administration extended the deadline for TikTok's sale to mid-September.
• Concerns about national security persist regarding the app's ownership by China's ByteDance.

The White House launched its official TikTok account on August 19, as President Donald Trump's deadline approaches for the Chinese-owned platform to either be sold or face a U.S. ban. The inaugural post featured a montage of Trump declaring, "I am your voice," with the caption, "America we are BACK! What’s up TikTok?" Less than an hour after posting, the account gained approximately 4,500 followers, reflecting significant interest as the platform boasts over 170 million users in the United States, according to CBS News, Channel News Asia, and India Times.

In 2024, Congress passed a law requiring TikTok's U.S. operations to be sold or face a nationwide ban due to national security concerns regarding user data potentially falling into the hands of the Chinese government. The initial deadline for this mandate was set for January 19, before Trump took office for his second term. Since then, he has extended the deadline multiple times, with the current expiration set for September 17, according to Business Insider and HuffPost.

The move to launch a TikTok account has been viewed as an effort to engage with younger voters, a demographic Trump capitalized on during his presidential campaign. The White House has faced criticism over the delays in enforcing the TikTok ban, as legislators express concerns that the app, owned by ByteDance, could be used for Chinese propaganda or data collection. Trump's connections with the platform date back to his presidency, when he attempted to ban it citing national security risks, according to Al Jazeera and Africa News.

With the recent TikTok launch, Trump's administration aims to leverage the app's massive user base while acknowledging ongoing legal uncertainties. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt highlighted the potential of TikTok as a communication tool, stating that Trump’s messages resonate well with the platform's audience and have proven effective during past campaigns, as reported by South China Morning Post and Le Monde.