Written by Gayla Whitfield Anderson and Anna Tong
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – TikTok and MAGA hats adorned partygoers at incoming President Donald Trump's inauguration on Sunday and the video-sharing platform he once tried to ban.
The ceremony, dubbed the Power 30 Awards, took place hours after TikTok began restoring services, honoring the social media influencers who greatly helped get Trump re-elected.
At the party, TikTok influencers recorded moments on small cameras and mingled at an open bar at Sax Restaurant and Lounge in downtown Washington. Free swag flowed in: TikTok beanie hats, glasses, Trump merchandise.
The party was hosted by Raquel Debono, known for organizing the “Make America Hot Again” conservative dating events, and C.J. Pearson (LON:), Co-Chair of the Republican National Committee's Youth Advisory Board.
“2024 was the first influential election,” Pearson told Reuters at the ceremony. “When we look at the mandate that was given to President Trump, it was because of young voters, and young voters were uniquely reached because of TikTok.”
Trump won just 43% of voters ages 18 to 29 in the 2024 general election, but that was 7 points more than in 2020.
Party-goers also praised Trump for his role in the TikTok reboot.
“Shout out to Donald Trump,” TikTok creator Bryce Hall, whose posts revolve around “making fun of stupid things,” told Reuters. “Now he understands the power of Generation Z.”
TikTok began restoring its services earlier on Sunday after President-elect Donald Trump said he would restore access to the app in the United States when he returns to power on Monday.
Trump said on Sunday that the United States would seek to create a joint venture to restore 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 has returned to the United States.”
As of Sunday evening, the app remained unavailable for download in US app stores, but the TikTok app and website are back online.
The TikTok app stopped working for US users late on Saturday before a law to shut it down for national security reasons went into effect on Sunday. US officials have warned that under Chinese parent company ByteDance, there is a risk of Americans' data being misused.
A source told Reuters that TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew intends to attend the US President's inauguration and attend a rally with Trump on Sunday.
(Reporting in Washington by Gayla Whitfield-Anderson; Editing by Gerry Doyle)
