In a move that blends self-promotion with political opportunism, President Donald Trump made a bold demand for loyalty from TikTok’s young user base — insisting they owe him “big” for keeping the app alive in the U.S.
Trump, who hasn’t been active on TikTok since 2024, returned to the platform on Monday with a direct message to the millions of young Americans who’ve made TikTok their cultural hub. “To all of those young people of TikTok, I saved TikTok, so you owe me big,” Trump declared, making clear he expects gratitude for his role in the app’s continued presence on American phones.
The backdrop here is a complex and contentious saga. Early in his presidency, Trump tried to ban TikTok over national security concerns linked to its Chinese ownership. But rather than a total shutdown, a compromise emerged. Trump signed an executive order enabling a joint venture led by billionaire Larry Ellison to run TikTok in the U.S.— a deal still pending approval from the Chinese government.
Still, Trump wasted no time turning the narrative into a personal victory lap, saying, “And now you’re looking at me in the Oval Office,” as if to remind the younger generation that he’s the one who made the deal happen. He even looked ahead to the future: “And someday one of you are going to be sitting right at this desk and you’re going to be doing a great job also.”
Whether young TikTokers see Trump as their savior or a political opportunist remains to be seen. But one thing is clear — Trump wants credit, and he’s not shy about asking for it.
Watch the clip below:
BREAKING 🇺🇸🦅 In an Apprentice-style video, President @realDonaldTrump releases new TikTok: "To all the young people, I saved TikTok—now you owe me, big time! Someday, one of you will be sitting here in the Oval Office…" pic.twitter.com/pU4q4hIGk2
— Toria Brooke (@realtoriabrooke) October 6, 2025
