donald trump
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Source: Kevin Carter / Getty / Donald Trump / TikTok
TikTok’s “savior,” Donald Trump, has given TikTok more time to secure a sale, but it’s still unclear if his actions will delay the platform’s ban in the United States.
On his first unfortunate day back in office, Monday, January 20, Donald Trump put his ugly a** signature to paper, signing an executive order stalling the federal ban on TikTok for 75 days.
According to the New York Times, the executive order instructs the Attorney General, presumably a Trump loyalist, and his former attorney, Pam Bondi, not to enforce the ban, giving his sorry administration “an opportunity to determine the appropriate course forward.”
When signing the executive order, Trump told reporters that if a deal is struck, “the U.S. should be entitled to get half of TikTok.”
According to the New York Times, the executive order could face legal challenges, specifically on his having the power to stop a federal law.
Donald Trump “Gets” TikTok Now
Trump’s executive action comes after TikTok hilariously banned itself early Saturday night, flipping the switch and turning off service in the U.S., and then turning back on Sunday following Trump’s announcement that he planned to sign an EO.
When users launched the app, they were greeted by a notification from TikTok telling them they could use the service stateside once again. They thanked Donald Trump for his help, sparking instant reactions from users who called the whole moment a stunt, likening it to Trump delaying stimulus checks so that he could put his signature on them.
When asked about his change of heart about TikTok, Trump told reporters, “Because I got to use it…TikTok is largely about young kids…if China is gonna get information about young kids, I don’t know.”
Donald Trump is asked about TikTok:
“Every rich person has called me about TikTok.”
Asked why he delayed the ban:
“Because I got to use it…TikTok is largely about young kids…if China is gonna get information about young kids, I dunno.”
Wow…just…wow. pic.twitter.com/M052GgekMO
— Art Candee 🍿🥤 (@ArtCandee) January 21, 2025
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LMAO, WHAT?
We shall see what happens with TikTok because the platform’s future still looks shaky despite its CEO, Shou Zi Chew, kissing the ring right now.
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Source: Christopher Furlong / Getty / Elon Musk
Fresh off his Nazi salute (no debate on that), Elon Musk, the billionaire nuisance, will have an office in the White House, according to a report and straight from Felon 47, aka Donald Trump’s mouth.
Yup, you read that nonsense correctly. Musk, the current co-chair of the completely made-up non-governmental organization Department of Government Efficiency, will have West Wing office space in the White House, as seen on Raw Story, according to a report in the New York Times.
Per Raw Story:
Musk, a close confidant of Donald Trump who had notably spent the weeks after Election Day at a $2,000 a night cottage at the president’s Mar-a-Lago golf resort, was expected to work out of the Eisenhower Executive Office Building, The New York Times reported Monday.
That would have placed him inside the White House complex, but not exactly in the West Wing itself, the publication added.
The development comes as the world’s richest man spent “many days asking about his level of access, signaling a desire for proximity to Mr. Trump, according to the people,” according to the Times report, which cited conversations with two people familiar with the planning.
According to the New York Times, “Mr. Trump had wanted Mr. Musk to have the space, one of the people said. Mr. Musk has been given a badge for the White House complex and filled out paperwork to be brought onboard for the role.”
Bruh.
Trump signs an order creating the Department of Governmental Efficiency
Doocy: Is Elon Musk getting a West Wing office? pic.twitter.com/kqxUGKXyWd
— Acyn (@Acyn) January 21, 2025
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DOGE Is Off To Very Non-Efficient Start
The agency, which Trump announced during the campaign, isn’t running efficiently. Word on the political streets is that DOGE’s other co-chair, Vivek Ramaswamy, is out as co-chair and has his sights on Ohio’s Governor’s seat. The seat will soon be vacated by the current Governor, Mike DeWine, who can no longer hold it due to term limits.
According to Politico, it was Musk himself who also wanted Ramaswamy out and accomplished his goal thanks to the failed Republican presidential candidates’ rant about H-1B visas where he called MAGA’s most prominent supporters, White folks, L A Z Y.
Musk and DOGE also look foolish after promising to slash at least $2 trillion from federal spending. DOGE was hit with a lawsuit, claiming it violates federal transparency rules on disclosure, hiring, and other practices.
Social media has thoughts on the matter; spoiler alert, they had nothing nice to say.
You can see those reactions in the gallery below.
1. Exactly
2. Yeah congress how do you feel aboput this?
3. Interesting
4. He probably won’t have to do anything because there is no accountability anymore
7. Sounds like waste to us too.
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Source: Kayla Bartkowski / Getty
President Donald Trump pardoned almost 1,500 people who stormed the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021, in an executive order, enraging many critics and observers online.
On Monday (January 20), President Donald Trump issued a sweeping “full, complete, and unconditional” grant of clemency to nearly 1,500 individuals who were charged in connection with the insurrection at the United States Capitol on January 6, 2021. The pardon also includes the commutation of the sentences of 14 members of the Proud Boys and Oath Keepers militia, some of whom had been convicted of committing a seditious conspiracy against the United States including Proud Boys leader Enrique Tarrio and Oath Keepers leader Stewart Rhodes. Trump sat in the Oval Office of the White House and signed the executive order, which was apparently broadcast on live television. “They’ve already been in jail for a long time,” he said of the rioters. “These people have been destroyed.”
The pardon also covered those who violently attacked members of the Capitol Police on that day using flagpoles, a crutch, and a hockey stick, among other weapons, leaving almost 100 members injured afterward. The executive order effectively shut down the largest and longest prosecution effort of the Justice Department in its 155 years of existence. Many of those previously convicted have only served days and weeks of their sentences, with many still awaiting trial. Trump also directed the Department of Justice to dismiss the remaining 450 pending cases before federal judges. Officer Michael Fanone, who suffered cardiac arrest after an insurrectionist attacked him with a stun gun, was taken aback at the news. “This is what the American people voted for,” he said. “How do you react to something like that?”
Trump had made freeing the insurrectionists a major campaign promise, often referring to them as “hostages” during his rallies across the country. He even referred to January 6 as a “day of love”. Family members of those rioters were jubilant at the news, with some celebrating their pardon in posts on social media. The family of Enrique Tarrio was even planning a cocktail party in Miami, Florida to celebrate, according to the New York Times. Several critics and observers also expressed their outrage through social media. ”Hundreds of people convicted of assaulting police officers amid the storming of the U.S. Capitol are getting full pardons because Trump wanted them to succeed and appreciated the effort. Shame of a nation,” wrote Media Matters senior fellow Matthew Gertz in a post on X, formerly Twitter.
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Source: John Medina / Getty
Donald J. Trump, the former reality star and real estate “mogul” has once again been inaugurated as the president of the United States. While millions of Americans celebrated, others were wary and braced for another four years of chaos that accompanied the last Trump presidency.
But, for the Hip-Hop community, one of the biggest surprises of the inauguration festivities was how many rap stars lined up to perform for Trump.
Snoop Dogg, Rick Ross, Nelly, and Soulja Boy performed at Trump’s Crypto Ball in Washington, D.C., on Friday earning backlash on social media. Many commenters compared the rappers’ performances to that of singer Chrisette Michele who performed for Trump in 2017 and was quickly shunned by the Black community, leading to the unravelling of her career.
Nelly justified his performance with an appearance on the Willie D Podcast on Saturday, per HuffPost. The 50-year-old St. Lunatic told the Geto Boys rapper, “it’s an honor” to “perform for the president of the United States, regardless of who is in office.”
He added, “If President Biden would have asked me to perform, I would have performed. If Vice President Kamala Harris would have won and asked me to perform, I would have performed.”
Nelly did mention that Trump, who is known for racist remarks and actions dating back to the 1970s, has “some f*cked up ways,” adding, that “performing for somebody and voting for somebody is two different things.”
Clips online have emerged of Nelly starting his set with “Hail to the Chief” and performing his hit single, “Country Grammar.”
The rapper says that he comes from a military family and compared his performance to the experience of American soldiers saying, “I’m not doing this for money, I’m doing this because it’s an honor. I respect the office. It doesn’t matter who is in office,” he said. “The same way that our men and women, our brothers and sisters who protect this country, have to go to war and have to put their life on the line for whoever is in office.”
However, the backlash to the rapper performing for Trump has been swift.
Polls show that 92% of Black women voted for Kamala Harris for president in 2024 while Trump saw an increase in his support from Black men according to the Associated Press with about 3 in 10 Black men under the age of 45 went for Trump, roughly double the number he got in 2020.
Kid Rock has once again shared his fondness for the newly-inaugurated U.S. President Donald Trump during an interview with ABC News on Monday (Jan. 20).
Speaking to correspondent Kyra Phillips following Trump’s inauguration, Rock (whose real name is Robert James Ritchie) appeared with sunglasses on as he drank a beer, smoked his “victory cigar”, and explained why it was that Trump resonated with him so strongly.
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“He’s one of the greatest men to ever walk the Earth,” Rock explained. “I call it like I see it. I think a lot of people are finding out what I’ve known for a long time, a lot of us have, that he’s one of the smartest guys in the room, he’s one of the funnest guys in the room – and he gets things done.”
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Referring to the “fiasco” of the “rigged election” that ended Trump’s first term, Rock said he’s “never been more excited” for the nascent administration. “Just to see somebody come from a business standpoint to get things done, to run this country how it needs to be run,” he explained. “Keep us safe, yes, but the business of America has been ran like complete crap the last four years. I love him for a million reasons.”
As Phillips continued her interview with Rock, she asked the musician about which of his songs described Trump best. “It’s ‘American Badass,’ 1,000%,” Rock explained. “When he walks in the room, he screams ‘American Badass’ just by the way he walks.”
Rock was one of the many musicians who performed at Trump’s inauguration weekend celebrations, which also included the likes of Jason Aldean, Billy Ray Cyrus, Lee Greenwood, Carrie Underwood, Rascal Flatts and the Village People. Rock’s brief performance took place on Sunday (Jan. 19), and despite including parts of songs such as “We the People” and “American Rock ‘n’ Roll”, did not feature “American Badass” on the setlist.
Phillips continued in this vein by questioning Rock’s inclusion in such an event, asking why Trump has expressed a fondness for the musician in recent years.
“I’m a person that likes to win. I don’t sugarcoat things. I call it like I see it,” Rock explained. “Sometimes I might not get it absolutely correct. I’m a man with forgiveness in my heart. I’m a Christian. I can’t stress [enough] that I like to win. I love this country. And I know he wants to win for this country. How are you gonna argue with that? ‘Make America Great Again’? People were walking around with MAGA stuff the last eight years, and people are like, ‘Oh, you’re a racist Nazi.” Like, calm down a little bit.”
“They went after me. They only made me stronger,” he continued. “I’m sure they’re only gonna continue to go after me. That’s fine. Have at it. It’s never bothered me.”
Rock concluded his interview by repeating his joke that Trump had appointed him “Head of the Liquor Cabinet” as part of the new administration.
Donald Trump showcased his signature dance moves during a high-energy pre-inauguration rally in Washington, D.C., on Sunday (Jan. 19).
The 78-year-old businessman-turned-politician, who was sworn in as the 47th U.S. president on Monday, celebrated his victory over Kamala Harris at D.C.’s Capital One Arena. The event featured performances by Kid Rock, Lee Greenwood and the Village People.
As the rally wrapped up, Trump danced and clapped along to the Village People’s 1978 hit “Y.M.C.A.,” a song frequently played at his campaign rallies. Smiling, he stood behind the group, delivering his trademark moves while the crowd cheered.
In the days leading up to the event, the Village People announced on Facebook that they had “accepted an invitation from President Elect Trump’s campaign to participate in inaugural activities, including at least one event with President Elect Trump.” The group added, “We know this wont make some of you happy to hear however we believe that music is to be performed without regard to politics. Our song Y.M.C.A. is a global anthem that hopefully helps bring the country together after a tumultuous and divided campaign where our preferred candidate lost.”
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Trump had previously featured the Village People’s “Macho Man” and “Y.M.C.A.” at his 2020 and 2024 rallies.
In December, Village People’s Victor Willis explained why he ultimately allowed Trump to continue playing “Y.M.C.A.” at rallies and events. Despite initially asking him to stop in 2020, Willis said he “didn’t have the heart” to block its use after realizing the politician “genuinely liked” the song and was “having a lot of fun” with it. Willis also noted that the track has seen a significant boost in chart positions and sales since Trump began using it during his campaign.
Sunday’s rally opened with a performance from Kid Rock, a longtime Trump supporter, before supporters like actor Jon Voight and Tesla CEO Elon Musk, among others, took the stage to offer congratulations.
“We won. We won,” Trump told the excited crowd. “I’m thrilled to be back with so many friends, supporters, and true American patriots on the eve of taking back our country. That’s what we’re going to do. Take back our country.”
He added, “Tomorrow at noon, the curtain closes on four long years of American decline, and we begin a brand-new day of American strength and prosperity, dignity and pride.”
Nelly will be performing at president-elect Donald Trump’s inaugural ball on Monday (Jan. 20), an inside source has confirmed to Billboard.
The 50-year-old “Hot in Herre” rapper joins a lineup of previously announced inauguration performers that includes Carrie Underwood, Kid Rock, Village People, Billy Ray Cyrus, Jason Aldean, Rascal Flatts, Parker McCollum, Lee Greenwood and Gavin DeGraw.
In an interview on Willie D Live, posted to YouTube on Saturday (Jan. 18), Nelly explained the reasons behind his decision to perform. He said in part, “I apologize. I didn’t know that I had to agree with your political choices, and I thought it was the things that you do not the things that you say should be done if you follow what I do. This shouldn’t even be an argument. He’s the president. He won. This isn’t a campaign. This isn’t the RNC. I’m not on the political campaign.”
Nelly went on to add, “I’m not doing this for money. I’m doing this because it’s an honor. I respect the office. It don’t matter who is in office, the same way that our men and women, our brothers and sisters who protect this country, have to go to war and have to put their life on the line for whoever’s in office. So if they can put their life on the line for whoever in office, I can damn sure perform for whoever … Nobody’s allowed to change, right? … If my past was once going to prevent me from winning today, I wouldn’t be here. I’m not saying that that he ain’t got some fucked up ways. That’s not what I’m saying at all. That’s why I’m not telling you who to vote for. But what I’m saying is that he’s the president of the United States…”
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During the interview, Nelly also addressed whether he was invited to participate in the Kamala Harris campaign. The rapper said he wasn’t invited, noting, “I didn’t get none of that 1.5 to try to help somebody get voted.”
Nelly isn’t the only rapper to participate in Trump’s inauguration festivities. Earlier this weekend, it was widely reported that Snoop Dogg, Rick Ross and Soulja Boy performed at the president-elect’s Crypto Ball pre-inaugural soiree in Washington, D.C., at the Andrew W. Mellon Auditorium on Friday (Jan. 17).
Snoop and his fellow rappers faced backlash for their performance at the event. In the comments section of a video from the show shared on the Shade Room’s Instagram, users criticized the artists for their participation. “This is culturally embarrassing and disrespectful as hell,” one commenter wrote. Another added, “Not a check in the world is worth selling my soul to the Devil…”
Former CNN anchor Don Lemon also covered the performance during his livestream, Lemon LIVE at 5, questioning whether Snoop and the artists were “sellouts” or “grifters who only care about a dollar.”
Snoop hadn’t publicly addressed the backlash at press time, but he did share an Instagram Story featuring himself and Ross at the event.
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Source: NurPhoto / Getty / TikTok Ban
Welp, TikTok and its China-based owner ByteDance f***ed around and found out. Late Saturday night, TikTok was officially banned in the U.S., but it’s back up after Donald Trump vowed to save it. Shockingly, the card-collecting video game Marvel Snap and video editing app CapCut are still down for the count.
TikTok went dark last night, causing all the influencers to lose their sh*t and take their grievances to X, Instagram, and wherever else they can hit a publish button.
Last night, TikTok’s 187 million U.S. users were greeted with a message telling them they could no longer use the app and that the company was fortunate that Felon 47, Donald Trump, would work with them to find a solution.
“Sorry, TikTok isn’t available right now. A law banning TikTok has been enacted in the U.S. Unfortunately, that means you can’t use TikTok for now,” the message begins. “We are fortunate that President Trump has indicated that he will work with us on a solution to reinstate TikTok once he takes office. Please stay tuned!”
TikTok cooked 😂🤣 pic.twitter.com/hzQvE5N6gG
— B E A N Z The Gamer Dad(beanzgotgamez.bsky.social) (@BeanzGotGamez) January 19, 2025
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Gen Z’s nightmare scenario of either having to put their phones down or use other social media platforms to share bad takes and do dance videos came to an end on Sunday after President-elect Trump said on his bullsh*t platform, Truth Social, that he will issue an executive order on Monday to save it.
Per MSNBC:
“I’m asking companies not to let TikTok stay dark!” Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social. “I will issue an executive order on Monday to extend the period of time before the law’s prohibitions take effect, so that we can make a deal to protect our national security. The order will also confirm that there will be no liability for any company that helped keep TikTok from going dark before my order.”
As of this writing, the switch has been flipped back on in the U.S., with the company writing in a post on X, formerly Twitter, “In agreement with our service providers, TikTok is in the process of restoring service. We thank President Trump for providing the necessary clarity and assurance to our service providers that they will face no penalties providing TikTok to over 170 million Americans and allowing over 7 million small businesses to thrive.”
“It’s a strong stand for the First Amendment and against arbitrary censorship. We will work with President Trump on a long-term solution that keeps TikTok in the United States.”
STATEMENT FROM TIKTOK:
In agreement with our service providers, TikTok is in the process of restoring service. We thank President Trump for providing the necessary clarity and assurance to our service providers that they will face no penalties providing TikTok to over 170…
— TikTok Policy (@TikTokPolicy) January 19, 2025
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The effort to ban TikTok was started by Trump in 2020 pic.twitter.com/7npCMW08qJ
— PatriotTakes 🇺🇸 (@patriottakes) January 17, 2025
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The TikTok Jig Is Loading….
While this may seem like a win for everyone, some see the jig, accurately pointing out that Donald Trump called for TikTok to be banned during the tail end of his disastrous presidency.
Popular political commentator @2RawTooReal pointed out how Trump and the CEO of TikTok, Shou Zi Chew, are in “cahoots” because Chew will be attending Trump’s now indoor inauguration ceremony. He also points out in his video that Trump wrote the EO (executive order) calling for the platform to be banned, but only for President Biden to revoke it when he took office.
2RawTooReal also points out that the law allows the president to grant TikTok a 90-day extension, allowing TikTok to find a buyer or, as he points out, allow Trump to work with the Republican-controlled Senate and House to pass a bill saving the platform, making Trump look like a hero and a champion of entrepreneurs.
He also points out that Chew shared a video of far-right political activist Charlie Kirk on his TikTok page and that the app buried his and other videos of users fact-checking misinformation about Vice President Kamala Harris.
The TikTok CEO and Donald Trump are in cahoots pic.twitter.com/IZT3HJrmni
— 2RawTooReal (@2RawTooReal) January 19, 2025
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Marvel Snap Is Still Down
While TikTok is back up, Marvel Snap is still down. Now, why, you might ask? IGN reports that the game was “developed by Second Dinner and was published by ByteDance-owned publisher Nuverse, which is what led to the ban.”
Well damn.
Second Dinner’s Chief Development Officer and Co-Founder, Ben Brode, revealed on BlueSky that the ban surprised his company.
“Unfortunately, Marvel Snap is temporarily unavailable in U.S. app stores and is unavailable to play in the U.S. This was a surprise to Second Dinner and our publisher Nuverse,” Brode wrote. “We’re actively working on getting the game up as soon as possible and will update you once we have more to share.”
He offered those thirsty to log in and give advice, suggesting they should use a VPN.
“FWIW I am hearing that VPN software will allow you to continue playing Marvel Snap in the meantime, as long as you pretend you’re from Canada or something,” he said.
What a mess.
You can see more reactions to the whole TikTok fiasco in the gallery below.
1. Donald Trump is not slick
2. Hit Charlie Kirk with the mean “this you?”
3. Accurate
4. Symone Sanders & The Weekend crew see the jig
5. Glad y’all are happy
6. This gif is always gold
7. Never forget
8. Please, don’t forget that Republicans don’t want to ban assault weapons
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Source: Jeff Kravitz / Getty / Rick Ross / Snoop Dogg
Welp, it looks like everyone is kissing Trump’s ring. Snoop Dogg, a one-time staunch critic of Donald Trump, along with Rick Ross, Soulja Boy, and Nelly, is feeling the wrath of social media after performing at Trump inauguration events.
All money isn’t good money, especially if it’s coming from Donald Trump, but that didn’t stop some of Hip-Hop’s biggest acts from performing at Orange Mussolini’s inauguration events.
According to CBS News, things got interesting when it was revealed that Nelly, 50, would perform at one of Trump’s three official inaugural balls.
The “Hot In Herre” crafter will take the stage at the Inaugural Liberty Ball on Monday. Ashanti’s baby daddy isn’t the only big-name artist selling their soul to perform for Trump and his MAGA minions. Country music superstar Carrie Underwood will perform “America the Beautiful” to kick off the convicted felon’s swearing-in ceremony, while opera singer Christopher Macchio will perform the national anthem.
The Village People will also be performing their hit record, “Y.M.C.A,” the song that Trump does his stupid a** dance to at his rallies.
As expected, the announcement of Nelly partaking in the celebrating of America’s downfall didn’t hit well with fans, particularly Black folks, who Trump is no fan of.
Nelly will receive the Chrisette Michelle treatment (when she performed at the Bum’s first inauguration back in 2017).
That’s the truth. https://t.co/wun5wMSbEV pic.twitter.com/7e1l8YRzDm
— The Chanteezy Is Real ♉️💛🪷 (@iamchanteezy) January 18, 2025
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But things really took a turn when social media found out that Snoop Dogg, Rick Ross, and Soulja Boy performed at Crytpo Ball celebrating Trump’s victory.
It’s time to throw @SnoopDogg in the dumpster with the rest of Trump’s white supremacist, insurrectionist allies. pic.twitter.com/tuWbhIxCWV
— 𝕂𝔼𝕄𝔼𝕀𝕌ℕ 🪷 ℝ𝔼𝕏 (@yourlittldogtwo) January 18, 2025
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Rick Ross, we see you too. pic.twitter.com/Bo8rdu3gUG
— mistergeezy.bksy.social (@mistergeezy) January 18, 2025
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🚨HOLY COW: Rap icon Soulja Boy is currently performing on stage at a Trump Inaugural Ball in DC! pic.twitter.com/Ppvg3zQHqq
— Bo Loudon (@BoLoudon) January 18, 2025
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Social Media Is Telling Them to Keep The Same Energy They Had For Chrisette Michele For Snoop Dogg, Rick Ross, Soulja Boy & Nelly
Immediately, users on X, formerly Twitter, didn’t waste time mentioning Chrisette Michele’s name. The R&B singer caught hell for singing Trump’s first inaugural ball.
Y’all gave Chrisette Michelle hell for performing at Trump’s first inauguration; I hope to see the same energy for Snoop Dogg, Nelly, and Rick Ross. pic.twitter.com/fjLZGgwail
— B E A N Z The Gamer Dad(beanzgotgamez.bsky.social) (@BeanzGotGamez) January 18, 2025
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In an interview with Terrell three years ago, Michele said performing at Donald Trump’s inauguration “was the wrong thing to do.”
Well, we shall see if Black folks are really bout it and hold Snoop Dogg, Rick Ross, Soulja Boy, and Nelly’s feet to the fire just like they did to Chrisette Michele.
Based on the reactions, they are letting the Hip-Hop superstars know that Trumpin is cool.
You can see those reactions in the gallery below.
1. Nelly should be ashamed oh himself
2. Clearly they needed the funds
3. 2025 is off to a wild start
4. Suckers
5. Damn not Ashanti
8. MLK is rolling in his grave
9. Probably not
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Source: SOPA Images / Getty / TikTok
Welp, it’s not looking good for everyone’s favorite social media platform, TikTok. The Supreme Court upheld the law banning the app in the U.S. if its Chinese owner, ByteDance, couldn’t facilitate a sale.
The clock officially ran out after TikTok’s final attempt to continue operating in the United States. The Supreme Court delivered the death blow, upholding a lower court ruling that ByteDance must sell the app by January 19 due to national security concerns.
“There is no doubt that, for more than 170 million Americans, TikTok offers a distinctive and expansive outlet for expression, means of engagement, and source of community,” an unsigned opinion from the justices read. “But Congress has determined that divestiture is necessary to address its well-supported national security concerns regarding TikTok’s data collection practices and relationship with a foreign adversary. For the foregoing reasons, we conclude that the challenged provisions do not violate petitioners’ First Amendment rights.”
The ban would go into effect under the Protecting Americans from Foreign Controlled Applications Act that President Joe Biden signed.
TikTok’s future in the United States is in dire jeopardy due to no sale on the table that could save it from the ban, forcing social media influencers to find another platform to do their “influencing” to continue making a living.
TikTok’s Fate Is In The Hands of Donald Trump
The outgoing Biden administration is punting on the matter, leaving TikTok’s fate in the hands of the platform’s newest “fan,” President-elect Donald Trump, who said to CNN, “It ultimately goes up to me, so you’re going to see what I’m going to do.”
“Given the sheer fact of timing, the administration recognizes that actions to implement the law simply must fall to the next administration, which takes office on Monday,” the Biden administration said.
“President Biden’s position on TikTok has been clear for months, including since Congress sent a bill in overwhelming, bipartisan fashion to the president’s desk: TikTok should remain available to Americans, but simply under American ownership or other ownership that addresses national security concerns identified by Congress in developing this law,” the statement read by White House Press Secretary Karine Jean Pierre said fresh off the Supreme Court’s ruling.
Trump also confirmed on his sh*tty platform Truth Social that he has spoken with China’s president Xi Jinping, claiming that he brought up TikTok during the conversation, whatever that means.
So What’s Going To Happen With TikTok?
When the ban officially begins, it will be up to the Google and Apple APP stores to enforce it and keep it from being available to users or face potential fines.
According to Deadline, the roughly 187 million Americans currently using the app will still have access to it, but they will not receive routine updates, rendering it a shell.
According to The Information, TikTok is prepared to go dark in the U.S. on Sunday, but the company could also “wait and see” what the Trump administration does.
Who Are The Potential Buyers?
During the previous nightmare that was Donald Trump’s first term, he was in favor of banning or forcing a sale of the app before his flip-flopping on the matter.
Deadline notes that he cannot stop the bipartisan legislation, but he could ask his incoming “Justice Department” not to enforce the ban.
There were rumors that China was considering Elon Musk’s potential purchase of TikTok. What could go wrong with this man owning another social media platform? TikTok has denied those claims.
Even Canadian Trump fan and Shark Tank cast member Kevin O’Leary is part of a formal bid submitted by Frank McCourt-founded Internet advocacy group Project Liberty to potentially buy TikTok without its algorithm to allow the 170 American users to “preserve the platform’s vibrant community, while also giving 170 million American TikTokers the ability to control, protect, and benefit from their data.”
We shall see what happens with the platform, but it looks like it’s a wrap right now.
You can see reactions to the news in the gallery below.
2. What is wrong with y’all ?
3. There might be some truth to this
4. Never forget!
5. Interesting take on the matter
8. Well, you should ask the GOP about most of those matters, TikTok was the only thing Republicans and Democrats agreed on
10. Womp, womp, womp
12. We shall see if his warming up to Donald Trump will help him in the long run