- President Trump told reporters on July 31 that he was planning on banning
TikTok in the United States, causing concern among many of the app's users and influencers. - TikTok was not banned over the weekend, and
Microsoft has confirmed that it is still in talks to acquire the app's US operations. - Now, TikTok users who were worried about the app disappearing are celebrating Microsoft, making
memes about the potential acquisition.
TikTok was sent into a tizzy after President Trump told reporters late Friday night on Air Force One that he was planning on banning TikTok in the United States. Three days later, TikTok is still running, with Microsoft currently in talks to acquire its US operations, the company confirmed in a statement. Now, some TikTok users are making memes about Microsoft potentially saving TikTok.
@blueboynv we love them ##foryou ##fyp ##MiPan ##microsoft ##tiktok ##period ##letstan ##weloveyou
♬ love galore demo - 0kayk30n
TikTok has been plagued with the standing threat of a United States ban throughout the month of July. The crux of anti-TikTok sentiment in the United States is centered around security concerns in relation to TikTok's Chinese parent company ByteDance. US government officials have speculated that TikTok could potentially give United States user data to the Chinese government.
Reuters reported on Aug. 1 that ByteDance was willing to divest its stake in TikTok in order to avoid a United States ban. The most notable prospective buyer is Microsoft, which is currently in talks to acquire TikTok's US operations. Reuters reported Monday that President Trump has given Microsoft and ByteDance 45 days to reach a deal.
For TikTok users who have built up followings and communities on the app, the entire process has been an emotional rollercoaster. Tensions have been high since a glitch that caused likes and view counts to temporarily disappear occurred just days after Pompeo and Trump's early remarks, making it seem like TikTok was crumbling before their eyes. After Trump's Friday remarks made it seem like TikTok could disappear within a day, TikTok users quickly reacted on the app, with many eulogizing TikTok with memes and threatening to go to White House to fight the president themselves.
With Microsoft emerging as TikTok's potential savior in the United States, some TikTok users are celebrating — and jokingly worshiping the company and its co-founder Bill Gates. Gates stepped down from the boards of both Microsoft and Berkshire Hathaway in March to focus on philanthropy and has not worked full-time at Microsoft since he left his position as CEO in 2008.
@charlesthegr8 ##sponsored I might have to cop that new ##xbox now ##microsoft ##fyp ##foryou ##funny
♬ Cousin Stizz – Perfect Ft. City Girls - jgonz860
@prettyboykope This better blow up bruh ##tiktok ##microsoft ##banned ##foryou ##foryoupage ##4u ##4upage ##blowthisup ##foryouu ##viral ##viralvideo ##tiktok ##tiktokban
♬ Famous (I'm the One) - Mozzy & IAMSU!
@calvynjustus # ##duet with @kalesalad ##microsoft ##trump ##tiktokban
♬ original sound - kalesalad
@passthejuulz can someone tell me if trump can actually ban it please help ##justamericanthings ##pleasedontbantiktok ##microsoft ##memes
♬ Ashes - Stellar
TikTok users also adopted meme formats and popular TikTok sounds, including a dramatic fight format that draws upon the soundtrack from "JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Golden Wind," to meme-ify the potential acquisition.
@electroniccrafter I really hope it’s true. Y’all, PLEASE don’t let this flop! ##UmbrellaChallenge ##MiPan ##InMyAEJeans ##ChiliDogYum ##microsoft ##goodbyetiktok
♬ original sound - your.username.here
@naw_sir WE ARE BACK BABY! Share copy link to share the
♬ Im Not Leaving!(Skit) - WesDawgnews ! TikTok is not going anywhere! ##microsoft ##fypシ ##trending ##trump
Many took the potential acquisition as a way to clown on the president himself, something that TikTok users are known for after many of its users took credit for low attendance at Trump's Tulsa campaign rally in June.
@ali3ngazer Thanks Gates! ##Tiktok ##trump ##microsoft ##billgates ##usa ##helpme ##fyp
♬ оригинальный звук - vladveid13
@mathew_duclos Microsoft saved TikTok ##microsoft ##tiktoksaved ##hype
♬ original sound - ratchettrat
@ausstihoe Day in the life of Donald ##comedy ##funny ##donaldtrump ##donald ##microsoft ##savetiktok ##ausstiho ##miniskit ##twooptions ##twochoices ##skit
♬ Backyard Boy - Claire Rosinkranz
Others played upon the longstanding division between PlayStation, which is owned by Sony, and Xbox, which is owned by Microsoft. Some joked about trashing their PlayStation content or buying their first Xbox if the deal pulled through.
@patrickgilchrist A message for Bill. ##fyp ##microsoft
♬ original sound - patrickgilchrist
@kordey40 ##greenscreen ##xbox360 ##xbox ##ps4 ##ps5 ##microsoft
♬ original sound - nuhchez
@myster1x Since Microsoft bought tiktok ##Microsoft ##tiktok ##CloudBread ##SummerDIY
♬ original sound - myster1x
While there's been plenty of fear and bluster about the future of TikTok in the United States over the course of the past month, TikTok itself has insisted that it isn't "planning on going anywhere."
- Read more:
- TikTok is at the heart of a wild geopolitical dogfight and it could result in Microsoft buying TikTok. Here's what's going on.
- TikTok teens are making memes saying they'll show up at the White House to confront Trump over app ban
- TikTok creators are worried about losing their followings as the Trump administration considers banning the app
- Trump might ban TikTok — here's what experts who pored through its code and privacy policies say about its security