White House opens TikTok account despite upcoming ban

White House opens TikTok account despite upcoming ban

• Aug 20, 2025, 9:42 AM

2 min de lecture

The White House has launched an official account on Chinese-owned TikTok less than a month before President Trump is set to ban the social media platform.

A 2024 data protection law required TikTok to stop operating by January 19 of this year unless ByteDance, the app’s mother company, had sold off its U.S. operations.

Trump, who was an avid user of TikTok during his Presidential campaign, extended the deadline to early April, then to June 19, and then again to September 17.

The @WhiteHouse account has already garnered more than 80,000 followers since launching on Tuesday with a short video montage of the President captioned ” America we are BACK! What’s up TikTok?”.

Trump has previously called the spread of TikTok an ”national emergency” when he signed an executive order in 2020 imposing widespread sanctions on the app during his first Presidential term.

Trump stated that the app’s data collection ”threatens to allow the Chinese Communist Party access to Americans’ personal and proprietary information — potentially allowing China to track the locations of Federal employees”.

He also criticized TikTok's alleged censorship of politically sensitive content concerning protests in Hong Kong and China’s treatment of Uyghurs and other Muslim minorities.

Asked about the White House’s new decision to embrace the platform, Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said that "President Trump's message dominated TikTok during his presidential campaign, and we're excited to build upon those successes and communicate in a way no other administration has before".

President Trump’s personal TikTok account @realdonaldtrump has been active since June 2024 and has more than 15 million followers.

Yesterday

South Africa looks to enhance global cooperation in face of sweeping US tariffs

South African economists are urging enhanced global cooperation, stressing the urgent need to counter American trade policies that have severely disrupted exports and could exacerbate job losses in an already struggling economy.<div class="small-12 column

Read the article

UK councils vow to evict 'migrant hotels' after court ruling

UK councils vow to evict 'migrant hotels' after court ruling<div class="small-12 column text-center article__button"><a href="https://www.africanews.com/2025/08/20/uk-councils-vow-to-evict-migrant-hotels-after-court-ruling/?utm_source=test_mrss&utm_campai

Read the article

Homes destroyed and dozens injured in Russian drone barrage on Ukraine

Russia launched a major drone and missile attack on Ukraine overnight, with the Sumy region bearing the brunt as strikes left at least 14 people injured, officials said.<div class="small-12 column text-center article__button"><a href="https://www.euronews

Read the article

Trump administration expands deportation strategy, Uganda denies involvement

The Trump administration is intensifying its crackdown on immigration by expanding efforts to deport migrants through deals with foreign governments, according to a report by CBS News. Under these arrangements, Uganda was reportedly set to receive non-cri

Read the article

U.S. suspends most visa processing for Zimbabwe amid government concerns

The U.S. embassy in Harare cited unspecified concerns regarding the Zimbabwean government as the driving factor behind this decision.<div class="small-12 column text-center article__button"><a href="https://www.africanews.com/2025/08/20/us-suspends-most-v

Read the article

Sudan reports surge in cholera cases amid ongoing conflict

Sudan is in the grip of a worsening health emergency. The Ministry of Health has reported 1,575 new cholera infections and 22 deaths in just the past week. That brings the total confirmed cases to over 101,000, with 2,515 lives lost since the outbreak was

Read the article

Protesters criticise Trump over Gaza war and trade tariffs in Brazil

Dozens of protesters gathered outside the US Consulate in São Paulo to denounce US President Donald Trump’s new tariffs on Brazilian exports and his support for Israel’s war in Gaza.<div class="small-12 column text-center article__button"><a href="https:/

Read the article

Tragic bus crash in Afghanistan claims 79 lives

In a tragic incident in northwestern Afghanistan, at least 79 people have died in a bus crash while returning from Iran.<div class="small-12 column text-center article__button"><a href="https://www.africanews.com/2025/08/20/tragic-bus-crash-in-afghanistan

Read the article

Aid agencies criticise Gaza airdrops as unsafe and ineffective

International donors carried out new airdrops of humanitarian aid over the Gaza Strip, where residents continue to face acute food shortages under Israel’s blockade and ongoing military operations.<div class="small-12 column text-center article__button"><

Read the article

Protesters call for central government control of wildfires in Spain

Demonstrations continued in Castile and León against the handling of widespread wildfires, with residents demanding stronger action and greater involvement from Spain’s central government.<div class="small-12 column text-center article__button"><a href="h

Read the article

Netanyahu: Macron "fuels anti-Semitism" by recognizing Palestine

”It rewards Hamas terror, hardens Hamas’s refusal to free the hostages, emboldens those who menace French Jews, and encourages the Jew-hatred now stalking your streets,” the Israeli PM said.<div class="small-12 column text-center article__button"><a href=

Read the article

Israel approves next phase of Gaza offensive, focus on Gaza City

Israel's military leaders approved the next phase of their ongoing offensive in the territory. The operation will shift focus to Gaza City, specifically targeting areas where Hamas is believed to still be active and where Israeli forces have not yet opera

Read the article

Japan seeks bigger role in Africa at Yokohama summit

Organisers say the initiative reflects Japan’s ambition to position itself as a reliable partner in Africa’s growth, with a focus on connectivity, trade, and sustainable development.<div class="small-12 column text-center article__button"><a href="https:/

Read the article

South Africa moves against rhino horn traffickers

This development comes amid growing concerns about wildlife crime. In 2024, 516 rhinos were poached across Africa, highlighting the urgent need for robust anti-trafficking measures<div class="small-12 column text-center article__button"><a href="https://w

Read the article

New malaria drug brings hope for infants in Uganda

Swiss regulators have approved the first malaria treatment safe for infants. The new drug, known as Coartem Baby or Riamet Baby, is specifically formulated for newborns and infants under five kilograms, an age group previously left out of treatment plans.

Read the article

White House opens TikTok account despite upcoming ban

The @WhiteHouse account has already garnered more than 80,000 followers since launching on Tuesday with a short video montage of the President captioned ” America we are BACK! What’s up TikTok?”.<div class="small-12 column text-center article__button"><a

Read the article

Underwater Christ statue in Liguria cleaned by divers

The submerged statue of Christ of the Abyss, a landmark off Liguria’s coast, has been cleaned in an underwater operation.<div class="small-12 column text-center article__button"><a href="https://www.euronews.com/2025/08/20/underwater-christ-statue-in-ligu

Read the article

M23 rebels killed 140 civilians in Eastern DRC, HRW says

A new report from Human Rights Watch says at least 140 civilians were killed in July by Rwanda-backed M23 rebels In eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. The advocacy group says the real figures could be over 300, echoing U.N. findings, as violence surges

Read the article

Libya’s municipal elections: HNEC urges caution over unofficial results

As Liberty inches toward restoring local governance, HNEC’s call for patience and reliance on official data is a critical step in safeguarding election integrity—even amid considerable logistical and security challenges.<div class="small-12 column text-ce

Read the article

Uganda’s 2026 presidential race heats up

As anticipation builds, Museveni's campaign promises continuity, stability, and development, while the opposition is mounting a vigorous challenge, rallying for a new era in Uganda’s political landscape.<div class="small-12 column text-center article__but

Read the article

Pix of the Day: August 20, 2025

Africanews focuses on the most striking images of the day's news.<div class="small-12 column text-center article__button"><a href="https://www.africanews.com/2025/08/20/pix-of-the-day-august-20-2025/?utm_source=test_mrss&utm_campaign=feeds_news_video-not-

Read the article