Generation Z influencers who were reeling after the Biden administration’s TikTok ban left the social media platform dark for 12 hours are all saying one thing after their beloved app returned to service on Sunday: Thank you, President Trump.
“I gotta keep it real, I’m crashing right now… this is so dystopian,” said makeup artist James Charles in an Instagram post Saturday that received more than 800,000 likes. Charles lamented that he no longer had access to an app that had become such a powerful force in his life.
“Now I support Trump, eew, make America great again, I think.”
SUPREME COURT HOLDS THREATENING TIKTOK BAN
President-elect Trump is pictured in front of the TikTok logo. (Getty Images)
More than 170 million US users were unable to access TikTok on Saturday evening, with the app showing a message saying it would be offline until further notice. The app was no longer available on Google or the App Store. The Biden administration signed a law requiring Chinese Communist Party-affiliated TikTok parent company Bytedance to divest the company in April or face closure in the United States. The Supreme Court upheld the law on Friday.
“A law has been passed in the US banning TikTok. Unfortunately, this means you won’t be able to use TikTok for the time being,” the message read in part. The next morning, users were greeted with another notification that the app was available again “as a result of President Trump’s efforts.”
Influencers were quick to celebrate the resumption of their favorite social media app, with users praising President-elect Trump for helping TikTok’s recovery after he said he would likely give the app a 90-day extension to comply with the law to fulfil.
TikTok influencers expressed their dismay following the Supreme Court’s decision to uphold a federal law on TikTok’s divestiture. (Screenshot/Alex Pearlman/Emily Senn/Madilynn Cameron)
“My birthday wish came true!!! Make TikTok great again! Worst 10 hours of my life,” he posted TikTok user JFernandez81 Sunday, along with a video of the influencer syncing the lyrics “you are appreciated” from the 2pac song Dear Mama.
“Thank you! Thank you Mr. Trump! We love you! We love you Papi,” TikTok user soyelmajedelvideooficial posted in a video that received over 2,000 likes.
Influencer Kristina Dunn credited the incoming president with bringing the app back to the internet, saying, “He’s the reason TikTok is back,” she said while wearing a shirt with the prez-elect’s face on it.
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Even TikTok CEO Shou Chew thanked Trump for his efforts to keep his app online in the United States.
“I want to thank President Trump for his commitment to working with us to find a solution that keeps TikTok available in the United States,” Chew said Friday in a video posted to his own TikTok channel.
