Conservative influencers celebrate at Trump’s inauguration party sponsored by TikTok Reuters
By Jayla Whitfield-Anderson and Anna Tong
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – TikTok earmuffs and MAGA hats adorned attendees at Sunday’s inauguration celebration of President-elect Donald Trump and the video-sharing platform he once tried to ban.
The party, called the Power 30 Awards, took place hours after TikTok began restoring services and honored the social media influencers who most helped Trump’s re-election.
At the party, TikTok influencers captured moments with tiny cameras and hung out at the open bar of Sax Restaurant and Lounge in downtown Washington. Free merchandise flowed: TikTok caps, cups, and Trump merch.
The party was hosted by Raquel Debono, known for organizing the conservative “Make America Hot Again” dating events, and CJ Pearson (LON:), co-chairman of the Advisory Council for Youth of the Republican National Committee.
“2024 was the first election for influencers,” Pearson told Reuters at the party. “When you look at the mandate that President Trump got, it was because of young voters, and young voters were reached uniquely because of TikTok.”
Trump only won 43% of voters aged 18-29 in the 2024 general election, but that was up 7 points from 2020.
Entertainers also praised Trump for his role in re-igniting TikTok.
“Shout out to Donald Trump,” TikTok creator Bryce Hall, whose posts revolving around “making fun of stupid things” have garnered more than 23 million followers, told Reuters. “He now understands the power of Generation Z.”
TikTok began restoring its services earlier on Sunday after President-elect Donald Trump said he would revive access to the app in the US when he returns to office on Monday.
On Sunday, Trump said the US would seek a joint venture to bring back the short video-sharing app used by 170 million Americans.
In a message to users hours before the rally, TikTok said, “As a result of President Trump’s efforts, TikTok is back in the US.”
As of Sunday evening, the app remained unavailable for download in US app stores, but the TikTok app and website were back online.
TikTok stopped working for US users late Saturday before a law shutting it down on national security grounds went into effect on Sunday. US officials have warned that under the Chinese parent company ByteDance there is a risk of misuse of Americans’ data.
TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew plans to attend the inauguration of the US president and attend a rally with Trump on Sunday, a source told Reuters.
(Reporting by Jayla Whitfield-Anderson from Washington; Editing by Gerry Doyle)
