## The Unlikely Savior: How MAGA Influencers Kept TikTok Alive
In a stunning turn of events, TikTok, the popular video-sharing platform once teetering on the brink of a US ban, remains operational under Chinese ownership, thanks in part to a surprising shift in allegiance among MAGA influencers.
As reported by The Verge, the platform’s demise seemed imminent on March 13th, 2024. Congress, in a rare display of bipartisan unity, voted overwhelmingly to force ByteDance, TikTok’s parent company, to either sell the app or face a complete ban. Concerns over national security, the potential for Chinese government-sponsored misinformation campaigns, and the clandestine harvesting of user data fueled this decision. President Biden signed the bill into law, and even a potential Trump victory seemed unlikely to alter the trajectory toward a ban.
This seemingly unavoidable fate stemmed from the MAGA movement’s long-standing animosity towards two prominent elements flourishing on TikTok: the Chinese Communist Party, perceived as financially supporting the Biden administration, and vocal supporters of Palestine. In 2020, Trump himself attempted to ban TikTok via executive order, driven in part by the platform’s role in amplifying support for his then-rival, Joe Biden.
Yet, months after the ban should have been enforced, TikTok persists. The app’s survival hinges on ongoing negotiations between the US and China, a negotiation influenced by a new wave of MAGA influencers who have found a potent platform for their messaging within TikTok’s vast user base. The very movement that once sought its eradication now plays a crucial role in its continued existence. The Verge’s full story explores this fascinating dynamic and the unlikely alliances shaping the future of the platform.
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