WASHINGTON, D.C. – Amidst ongoing debates over TikTok’s security implications, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre clarified the administration’s stance on President Biden’s engagement with the platform.
Despite labeling TikTok a national security threat, the administration plans to use the platform to communicate with the American public, including a potential discussion between the President and TikTok influencers following his State of the Union address.
Jean-Pierre emphasized the importance of meeting Americans where they are, including on platforms like TikTok, to ensure the President’s message reaches a broad audience. This approach comes with the acknowledgment of TikTok’s use in campaign strategies, which is being managed separately. The administration’s efforts to safeguard national security while leveraging TikTok for outreach reflect a nuanced stance, underpinned by bipartisan efforts to address the platform’s security risks.
“From a national security standpoint, there are still concerns about using TikTok on government devices,” said White House national security communications adviser John Kirby.
In 2022, Biden signed legislation blocking using TikTok on government devices.