Vice President Kamala Harris officially launched her TikTok account on Thursday, July 25, adding a new dimension to her 2024 presidential campaign strategy. This move marks a significant step in her efforts to engage with younger voters on the popular social media platform.
In her inaugural TikTok video, Harris addressed her sudden popularity on the app’s “For You Page,” stating, “I thought I’d get on here myself.”
Harris’s decision to join TikTok follows President Joe Biden’s announcement that he would suspend his re-election campaign, positioning her as the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee.
The app has since become a hub for Harris-related content, with users creating a variety of memes and videos. These include humorous mashups featuring Harris dancing, laughing, and participating in the viral “coconut tree” meme. Additionally, the “brat” meme, inspired by a comment from Charli XCX and referencing her latest album, has trended in relation to Harris.
The vice president’s TikTok account (@kamalaharris) quickly gained traction, attracting nearly 200,000 followers within just two hours of its launch. This rapid growth underscores the platform’s power in amplifying her campaign’s reach. In contrast, President Biden previously appeared alongside Harris on the campaign’s @BidenHQ (now @KamalaHQ) page, showcasing a more traditional approach to digital engagement.
TikTok’s role in modern political campaigns has expanded, despite concerns about the platform’s ownership by a Chinese tech company. U.S. lawmakers have raised issues regarding national security and privacy, but the app remains a critical tool for engaging voters, particularly since it does not allow political advertising.
Former President Donald Trump also joined TikTok earlier this year, launching his official account in June. While expressing concerns about TikTok’s security risks, Trump argued that banning the app could inadvertently boost Facebook, which he described as “an enemy of the people.”
Featured Image courtesy of Montinique Monroe/Getty Images
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