Members-Only Article

Let Us Behold Trump’s TikTok Two Step

This Week in the Swamp: A weekly dive into the muck of the Trump administration.

TikTok closeup logo displayed on a phone screen, smartphone on the American flag or U.S. flag, the national flag of the United States are seen in this multiple exposure illustration. Tik Tok is a Chinese video-sharin... TikTok closeup logo displayed on a phone screen, smartphone on the American flag or U.S. flag, the national flag of the United States are seen in this multiple exposure illustration. Tik Tok is a Chinese video-sharing social networking service owned by a Beijing based internet technology company, ByteDance. It is used to create short dance, lip-sync, comedy and talent videos. ByteDance launched TikTok app for iOS and Android in 2017 and earlier in September 2016 Douyin fror the market in China. TikTok became the most downloaded app in the US in October 2018. President of the USA Donald Trump is threatening and planning to ban the popular video sharing app TikTok from the US because of the security risk. On August 3, 2020 in Thessaloniki, Greece.(Photo by Nicolas Economou/NurPhoto via Getty Images) MORE LESS

By Matt Shuham

September 24, 2020 6:11 p.m.

President Donald Trump’s grand TikTok deal is a perfect little encapsulation of his presidency: All tell, hardly any show, and a little grease on the side.

Already a member? Sign In

To access exclusive analysis and reporting from TPM’s award-winning staff along with:

The Hive Member Forum

Members-Only Newsletter

Exclusive RSS Feeds

Commenting

Prime

$60/yr

Access to member exclusives and fewer ads

Get Prime

Prime Ad Free

$100/yr

Access to member exclusives and NO ads

Get Prime AF

View All Options