Joe Biden slammed as 'hypocritical' after he disses Trump on TikTok which he's trying to ban

WASHINGTON, DC: President Joe Biden recently signed a law giving ByteDance, the China-based parent company of TikTok, a year to divest its stake in the popular social media platform or face a ban in the United States.

Citing "legitimate national security concerns with respect to data integrity," the White House's decision reflects growing apprehensions about the potential risks posed by foreign-owned apps accessing American user data.

Biden's apparent hypocrisy

Amidst this regulatory backdrop, however, an intriguing paradox has emerged: Biden's own campaign, alongside Vice President Kamala Harris, maintains a verified TikTok account, with a significant following of over 318,000 users.

This revelation has sparked controversy and accusations of hypocrisy, as the administration seeks to leverage and regulate the platform simultaneously.

Campaign officials have defended using TikTok as a strategic necessity in engaging with young voters, a demographic increasingly vital in shaping electoral outcomes.

Embracing "enhanced security measures," the Biden team aims to navigate the platform's potential risks while capitalizing on its reach and influence.

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

Nevertheless, the campaign's utilization of TikTok has elicited criticism, particularly in light of the administration's efforts to restrict the app's operations due to purported national security concerns.

Biden faces backlash for using TikTok

A recent TikTok video featuring the Biden/Harris campaign participating in a trend mocking former president Donald Trump drew backlash on social media, with many highlighting the apparent inconsistency of endorsing a platform deemed unsafe for broader usage.

"Posted on TikTok btw… they can use it for their campaign but it’s a threat to our national security???" one critic posted on X.

"But didn’t he try to…you know what, they STAY contradicting themselves," another wrote.

"Shouldn't this be treated as a national security risk since they're saying that TikTok is a national security risk to US citizens? Couldn't this potentially compromise the president or the government since they're stealing our data???" a comment read.

"This + the fact that employees of federal contractors aren’t allowed to have TikTok on their phones if they have any sort of work app (email, teams, etc) is so hypocritical," someone else offered.

"They wanna buy it so they can control the media and push their agendas, this is the start," another alleged.

As mentioned, the Biden campaign's decision to embrace TikTok comes amid ongoing legislative efforts to compel ByteDance's divestiture of the platform.

Despite initial indications that the 2024 campaign would eschew TikTok, the Biden team launched its own account earlier this year, featuring content often featuring the president himself.

Joe Biden's campaign wants to engage with young voters

And despite concerns over the platform's security, the President's re-election campaign is prioritizing engagement with young voters through diverse digital channels.

“Like he did in 2020, Joe Biden will beat Trump with the backing of young voters who know he’s kept his promises and is committed to delivering on the issues that matter most to them: to fight climate change, reform gun laws, reduce student loans, and build a country that moves us forward, not backward,” the Biden campaign official continued. 

“Reducing young people’s vote down to the use of a social media app is unserious, inaccurate and insulting: Election after election, young people continue to show us they understand the stakes of this moment and will vote like their futures depend on it — because they do," they added.

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