Censorship Accusations Mount Against Trump-Backed TikTok Venture

A wave of skepticism has surrounded the launch of TikTok’s new U.S. joint venture, led by a Trump-approved investor group. While the company cites technical difficulties for recent disruptions, a growing chorus of politicians, journalists, and users believe the platform is actively censoring content critical of President Trump and his administration.

The backlash has been swift and high-profile:

• Political Scrutiny: Gov. Gavin Newsom has launched a review to determine if TikTok is violating California law, stating his office has confirmed instances of "suppressed content critical of President Trump." Meanwhile, Sen. Chris Murphy labeled the alleged suppression a major "threat to democracy."

• User Complaints: High-profile users, including Billie Eilish, reported that videos criticizing the recent ICE crackdown were stalled in "review" or received unusually low views. Others claimed the app blocked direct messages containing the name "Epstein."

TikTok has officially attributed the issues to a "power outage" and denied banning specific terms. However, the explanation has done little to quell public outrage. According to CNBC, trust in the new ownership is plummeting, with app deletions up 150% following the joint venture's debut.