TikTok stars believe Donald Trump is trying to BAN the app as revenge for trolling him and ruining campaign rally
PRESIDENT Trump’s plan to ban TikTok is retaliation for social media pranks, users of the social media app say. TMZ spoke with two TikTok stars recently, Mary Jo Laupp and DeJuan Booker, both of whom have orchestrated nationwide pranks against the president. Although President Trump’s stated reason for wanting to ban the app is fear […]
PRESIDENT Trump’s plan to ban TikTok is retaliation for social media pranks, users of the social media app say.
TMZ spoke with two TikTok stars recently, Mary Jo Laupp and DeJuan Booker, both of whom have orchestrated nationwide pranks against the president.
Although President Trump’s stated reason for wanting to ban the app is fear of Chinese data theft, Laupp sees Trump’s desire to ban Tik as lingering animosity over pranks against him.
Laupp believes that a ban would merely strengthen Gen Z, showing the generation’s power to influence politics and possibly inspiring young people to vote in the 2020 presidential election.
The President has said that TikTok’s U.S. branch must be sold to an American company by September 15.
Booker, who leads what he calls “Gen Savage”, has also staged several pranks, including organizing negative reviews of the Trump app.
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On July 16 Booker uploaded a TikTok encouraging mass phone calls to President Trump’s Hotels, “that way if anyone does want to get in touch with them and make a reservation it’s almost impossible.”
Booker has said that banning TikTok will not stop the flow of pranks or criticism of the president, and that the trolls will simply use a different platform.
He admitted to TMZ that the pranks are petty, but views them as important to empowering Gen Z.