'Clear case of hypocrisy': Biden campaign stays on TikTok despite president signing bill that may ban it

WASHINGTON, DC: Despite President Joe Biden signing a bill on Wednesday, April 24 that might see the social media app banned in a few months, his re-election campaign has confirmed that they will still use TikTok to connect with prospective voters.

A Biden campaign representative said, “A fragmented media environment requires us to show up and meet voters where they are — and that includes online. TikTok is one of many places we’re making sure our content is being seen by voters.”

“When the stakes are this high in the election, we are going to use every tool we have to reach young voters where they are,” the spokesperson asserted, emphasizing that the campaign team is employing “enhanced security measures.”

What does the TikTok bill signed by President Biden entail?

On Wednesday, April 24, President Joe Biden signed a bill into law that requires the Chinese government-linked company, ByteDance, to divest TikTok within nine months or risk facing a ban in the United States, per the New York Post.

If a sale is in progress at the end of the nine months, ByteDance will have an additional three months to complete the divestiture.

However, legal challenges could potentially delay the timeline, as TikTok has threatened to do so in response to the new law.

Following the signing of the bill, President Biden's 2024 campaign posted a TikTok video on their page featuring the 81-year-old incumbent President criticizing ex-President Donald Trump for claiming "windmills cause cancer."

The ‘bidenhq’ account, which has over 300,000 followers and has posted more than 100 videos since its launch in February, frequently shares clips of the president, political news explanations, and mockery of Trump or his allies.

Critics of TikTok have raised concerns regarding the platform's links to the Chinese Communist Party, including the possession of millions of Americans' data and the app's influence on the country's youth.

The White House National Security Council spokesperson, John Kirby, acknowledged these concerns on CBS News' ‘Face the Nation’ in March, stating that President Biden "absolutely" sees "national security concerns on that application and he's banned it on government devices."

Regarding the bill, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre noted that its purpose is to ensure the Americans are “protected,” and is not intended as a ban.

Jean-Pierre said during the White House briefing on Wednesday, “This is not a ban. This is about divestment. This is about our national security. We are not saying that we do not want Americans to use TikTok, that is not what we’re saying. We want to make sure that Americans are protected, are protected, and that is what this is about … We’re not saying we do not want TikTok to exist.”

Both Biden and Trump are competing to win over younger voters, who make up the primary demographic of TikTok users, through their respective campaigns.

Notably, the 77-year-old MAGA strongman who does not have a TikTok account recently urged his young supporters to remember that it was his adversary, Joe Biden, who signed the bill that opened the door to the potential ban of the popular social platform.

While Trump attempted to ban TikTok during his presidency, he has recently changed his stance on restrictions, arguing that they would only benefit companies like Facebook by giving them a greater monopoly on the market and allowing them to censor conservative voices.

Internet calls out Biden and his campaign team for still being active on TikTok

One X user remarked, "Well! That’s a clear case of hypocrisy."

Another user claimed, "Rules for thee but not for me."

Another user wrote, "Do as I say, not as I do!"

One user snarked, "Biden can do whatever he wants. Just not any Trump patriots."

Another X user asked, "Wait? They want to ban it, but they still want to use it?"

Finally, this user tweeted, "Biden didn’t know the TikTok ban was in the foreign aid bill."

This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.