Chrissy Teigen has emerged as the latest high-profile figure to speak out against the TikTok ban, leveling accusations at former President Donald Trump of orchestrating a clever maneuver to cast himself as a heroic figure. The surprise federal ban, which caught millions of American users off guard, has rendered TikTok inaccessible, with the app swiftly vanishing from prominent app stores such as Apple and Google. By Saturday evening, the platform's website bore a message confirming the popular social media app's temporary exile.
Just before the ban came into force, Teigen took to Instagram to air her views on the TikTok saga and the perceived role Trump might play in manipulating the public narrative. In her Instagram stories, she mused, "Let's delve into TikTok. Everyone's dejected—‘OMG, I can't fathom it's been shut down.’ But it's not going to stay shut down." She further elaborated, "[TikTok] is merely on a brief hiatus right now, poised for a grand return. And when it does return, it'll be under Trump's watch, making every youngster exclaim, ‘OMG, I'm so thankful he brought it back, he restored our free speech!'" as reported by The Blast.
Married to singer John Legend, Teigen hinted that the ban and its eventual reversal could be a calculated move to portray Trump as a savior in the eyes of TikTok's loyal user base. She contended, "He'll claim it as this magnificent feat he accomplished for the masses, and you'll all willingly fall into his trap."
On Sunday, the President-elect announced on his Truth Social platform that he had urged companies "not to let TikTok fade into obscurity" and proclaimed his intention to sign an executive order postponing the ban on Monday afternoon. He penned, "I implore companies not to let TikTok remain in the shadows! I will issue an executive order on Monday to extend the grace period before the law's restrictions kick in, allowing us to strike a deal that safeguards our national security. The order will also assure that no company aiding in keeping TikTok alive before my order will face any liability."
