Conservative influencers celebrate at TikTok-sponsored Trump inauguration party

TikTok earmuffs and MAGA hats adorned partygoers astatine Sunday's inauguration solemnisation for the incoming President Donald Trump and the video-sharing level helium erstwhile tried to ban.

Called the Power 30 Awards, the enactment occurred hours aft TikTok began restoring services, and honored societal media influencers who had helped astir with Trump's re-election.

At the party, TikTok influencers recorded moments connected tiny cameras and mingled implicit an unfastened barroom astatine Sax Restaurant and Lounge successful downtown Washington. Free swag flowed: TikTok beanies, changeable glasses and Trump merchandise.

The enactment was hosted by Raquel Debono, known for organizing "Make America Hot Again" blimpish dating events, and CJ Pearson, co-chair of the Republican National Committee Youth Advisory Council.

"2024 was the archetypal influencer election," Pearson told Reuters astatine the party. "When we look astatine the mandate that President Trump was given, it was due to the fact that of young voters, and young voters were reached uniquely due to the fact that of TikTok."

Trump won lone 43% of voters property 18 to 29 successful the 2024 wide election, but that was 7 points much than successful 2020.

Partygoers besides praised Trump for his relation successful turning TikTok backmost on.

"Shout retired to Donald Trump," TikTok contented creator Bryce Hall, whose posts revolving astir "making amusive of anserine things" person netted him implicit 23 cardinal followers, told Reuters. "Now helium recognize the powerfulness of Gen Z."

TikTok began restoring its services earlier connected Sunday aft President-elect Donald Trump said helium would revive the app's entree successful the U.S. erstwhile helium returns to powerfulness connected Monday.

Trump said Sunday that U.S. volition question a associated task to reconstruct the short-video sharing app utilized by 170 cardinal Americans.

In a connection to users hours earlier the rally, TikTok said: "As a effect of president Trump's efforts, TikTok is backmost successful the U.S."

As of Sunday evening, the app remained unavailable for download connected U.S. app stores, but the TikTok app and website were backmost online.

TikTok stopped moving for U.S. users precocious connected Saturday earlier a instrumentality shutting it down connected nationalist information grounds took effect connected Sunday. U.S. officials had warned that nether Chinese genitor institution ByteDance, determination was a hazard of Americans' information being misused.

TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew plans to be the U.S. statesmanlike inauguration and be a rally with Trump connected Sunday, a root told Reuters.

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