“Why is Biden on TikTok? Easy. Because he’s desperate,” Sen. Josh Hawley wrote on X. “What message does it send? He doesn’t give a rip about Americans’ security or China’s spying.”
Since Joe Biden’s campaign launched a TikTok account, it hasn’t gone viral, but the debut is not a flop either. With 67,000 followers so far, it’s challenging to gauge its significance for the leader of the free world on a platform not typically associated with his demographic. In comparison, Biden’s X account boasts nearly 38 million followers, while his campaign account has 295,000.
As of Monday evening, the TikTok account has shared four videos. The first, where Biden playfully answered Super Bowl questions and teased Republicans, garnered 6 million views. Another video titled “weird brag” highlighting Donald Trump’s comments on NATO got attention, while a post poking fun at Biden’s age received 70,000 views.
Democratic consultants praised Biden’s move to engage with a demographic where he polls poorly, emphasizing the importance of injecting humor and relevant content. Meanwhile, Republicans focused on China-security concerns regarding the president joining TikTok, rather than critiquing the account’s content.
It is ‘’ proof positive of both our commitment and success in finding new, innovative ways to reach voters in an evolving, fragmented, and increasingly personalized media environment,’’ said Deputy Campaign Manager Rob Flaherty.
