Conservative influencers celebrate at TikTok-backed Trump inauguration party Reuters

By Jayla Whitfield-Anderson and Anna Tong

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – TikTok headsets and MAGA hats adorned attendees at Sunday’s inauguration of President-elect Donald Trump and the video-sharing platform he once tried to block.

The so-called Power 30 Awards, which took place hours after the party began restoring TikTok services, honored social media influencers who were instrumental in Trump’s re-election.

At the party, Tik Tok influencers captured moments on tiny cameras and mingled at the open bar at Sac Restaurant and Lounge in downtown Washington. Free swag flowed: TikTok beanies, shooting glasses and Trump gear.

The party was hosted by Raquel DeBono, best known for hosting the conservative dating show “Make America Hot Again,” and CJ. Pearson (LON: ), chairman of the Republican National Committee’s Youth Advisory Council.

“2024 was the first impactful election,” Pearson told Reuters in the party. “When we look at President Trump’s mandate, it’s because of young voters, and young voters have been uniquely reached because of TikTok.”

In the year In the 2024 general election, Trump won only 43 percent of 18- to 29-year-old voters, 7 points more than in 2020.

Partygoers also praised Trump for turning TikTok back on.

“Shout out to Donald Trump,” TikTok creator Bryce Hall told Reuters, whose posts revolve around “joking about stupid things” that have earned him more than 23 million followers. “Now he understands the power of Gen Z.”

TikTok began restoring its services on Sunday after President-elect Donald Trump said he would restore the app’s access to the United States when he returns to office on Monday.

Trump said on Sunday that the United States is looking for mutual cooperation to restore the short video-sharing app used by 170 million Americans.

In a message to users hours before the rally, Tik Tok said, “Due to the efforts of President Trump, Tik Tok is back in the US.”

As of Sunday evening, the app was not available for download on US app stores, but the TikTok app and website were back online.

TikTok stopped working for US users on Saturday, ahead of the national security shutdown law taking effect on Sunday. US officials have warned that American data could be misused by Chinese parent company ByteDance.

TikTok CEO Xu Zicheu plans to attend the US presidential inauguration and attend a rally with Trump on Sunday, a source told Reuters.

(Reporting by Jayla Whitfield-Anderson in Washington; Editing by Jerry Doyle)