Just a day after joining TikTok, Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump amassed 3 million followers on the platform he once sought to ban over national security concerns. Trump's decision to join TikTok is seen as a strategic move to engage younger voters as he vies for the US presidency against Democratic incumbent Joe Biden in the upcoming 5 November election.

@realdonaldtrump

Launching my TikTok at @UFC 302.

original sound -President Donald J Trump

Trump's first post, a video of him greeting fans at a UFC fight in New Jersey, quickly garnered over 56 million views. Despite his past efforts to ban TikTok, Trump now plans to use the platform to communicate directly with Americans, emphasising his commitment to leveraging every available tool in his campaign.

Meanwhile, Biden's campaign, already active on TikTok with over 340,000 followers, reflects the ongoing controversy surrounding the app. Although Biden signed a bill that could ban TikTok if its Chinese owner ByteDance doesn't divest, ByteDance is challenging the law in court. The White House maintains that ending Chinese ownership is crucial for national security, while TikTok asserts it has implemented robust measures to protect user data.

Trump's significant social media presence, with millions of followers on X and Truth Social, underscores his reliance on digital platforms for outreach. As legal battles over TikTok's future unfold, the US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia has scheduled oral arguments for September, expediting the consideration of these challenges.