The scene at Sunday’s inauguration celebration for President Donald Trump was as unconventional as the political landscape in 2024.
Adorned with TikTok earmuffs and MAGA hats, partygoers gathered to celebrate the incoming president, whose relationship with the popular video-sharing platform had become central to his re-election efforts. The event, known as the Power 30 Awards, took place hours after TikTok had begun restoring its services in the U.S., after a period of uncertainty. It was a night that blurred the lines between political celebration, social media culture, and influencer power.
Hosted at Sax Restaurant and Lounge in downtown Washington, the party was a unique blend of politics and social media, where TikTok influencers mingled with conservative political figures. Guests were treated to an open bar and an array of free merchandise, including TikTok-branded beanies, shot glasses, and Trump-themed memorabilia. The atmosphere was lively, with influencers capturing moments on small cameras while reflecting on the unprecedented role social media played in the 2024 U.S. elections.
Raquel Debono, known for organizing conservative events like “Make America Hot Again” dating gatherings, and CJ Pearson, co-chair of the Republican National Committee Youth Advisory Council, were the event’s hosts. Pearson’s words at the party echoed the growing influence of social media in American politics. “2024 was the first influencer election,” he said, pointing to the critical role TikTok and other platforms had in reaching young voters. Pearson’s comments were a reflection of how, despite President Trump’s age, his message resonated with a generation of voters who found their political views shaped by the viral content on platforms like TikTok.
Trump’s ability to connect with younger voters was evident in the 2024 election results. Although Trump still did not win the majority of voters aged 18 to 29, he gained ground compared to 2020, winning 43% of the demographic, a 7-point increase from the previous election. This shift in voting patterns was attributed to the success of social media campaigns, particularly those on TikTok. The app became a key platform for conservatives to reach Gen Z, who found the platform to be an effective tool for political engagement. The influence of TikTok in shaping the 2024 election results is a testament to the increasing role social media plays in modern political campaigns.
Among the partygoers was Bryce Hall, a popular TikTok influencer with over 23 million followers. Hall, known for his humorous videos and commentary on current events, was quick to praise President Trump for his efforts to bring TikTok back to American users. “Shout out to Donald Trump,” Hall said, acknowledging the president’s role in understanding the power of TikTok and its influence over Gen Z. For many influencers like Hall, TikTok wasn’t just a platform for entertainment—it had become a space where politics could be discussed, memes could spread, and young people could mobilize.
TikTok had faced a tumultuous period under Trump’s administration, with the president previously calling for the app’s ban in the U.S. due to national security concerns. The fears stemmed from TikTok’s ownership by Chinese parent company ByteDance, which led to worries over the potential misuse of American user data. However, in a surprising twist, Trump announced that he would seek to restore TikTok’s access to the U.S. upon his return to power. This move effectively reversed the decision to ban the app, signaling the importance of TikTok in Trump’s strategy for re-engaging young voters.
Just hours before the inauguration celebration, TikTok confirmed that its services had been restored, thanks to Trump’s intervention. The platform, which had been blocked for U.S. users late on Saturday, was now back online, allowing millions of American users to return to the app and engage with their favorite influencers, political content, and viral videos. However, while the app itself was accessible again, it remained unavailable for download in U.S. app stores, a situation that raised questions about the future of the app’s availability.
TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew was expected to attend the inauguration and the rally with President Trump, signaling the importance of the platform’s role in the future of U.S. politics. Chew’s attendance at the event marked a symbolic gesture of TikTok’s comeback in the American political landscape. Despite the continued concerns over TikTok’s parent company, the app had become a powerful tool for engagement, with influencers using it to drive political messages, mobilize younger voters, and challenge traditional campaigning methods.
As influencers celebrated Trump’s decision to revive TikTok, the event was a clear reflection of how much the political landscape had shifted. Social media had gone from being a space for personal expression and entertainment to becoming a critical component of political engagement. The Power 30 Awards celebration was not just a party—it was a statement about the growing power of social media influencers in modern elections. As TikTok continued to grow in popularity, its influence over younger voters, and by extension, its impact on U.S. politics, would only continue to rise.
This party and the political maneuvering behind it illustrated the changing nature of political campaigns, where traditional methods of reaching voters are being replaced by the viral nature of social media.
