President-elect Donald Trump pledged on Sunday to launch “the largest deportation operation in American history” on his first day back in office, while also hinting at reconsidering the future of TikTok in the U.S.
Speaking to an enthusiastic crowd at Turning Point Action’s AmericaFest conference in Arizona, Trump, 78, declared, “On my first day back in the Oval Office, I will sign a historic slate of executive orders to close our border to illegal aliens and stop the invasion of our country.”
Mass Deportation Plans
Trump promised that the deportation campaign would surpass even President Dwight D. Eisenhower’s efforts, saying, “We will begin the largest deportation operation in American history, larger even than that of President Dwight D. Eisenhower.”
Throughout his 2024 campaign, Trump emphasized his commitment to removing illegal immigrants residing in the U.S., appointing Tom Homan as his designated border czar to oversee the operation. Homan also spoke at the conservative gathering, echoing Trump’s hardline immigration stance.
TikTok and Young Voter Engagement
Trump also touched on his appeal to young voters, attributing much of his success to his campaign’s presence on TikTok. The popular video-sharing platform, owned by Chinese company ByteDance, faces a looming January 19, 2025 deadline to divest from its parent company or face a U.S. ban.
“I think we’re going to have to start thinking about TikTok,” Trump mused. “We did go on TikTok. We had a great response with billions of views … and it was so beautiful to see.”
Despite previous concerns about TikTok’s ties to China and national security risks, Trump hinted at keeping the platform available, adding, “I said, we got to keep this sucker around a little while.”
National Security and Policy Priorities
Trump’s dual focus on immigration and social media highlights his broad policy agenda as he prepares to return to the White House on January 20, 2025. His stance on TikTok marks a shift from his earlier efforts to ban the app, raising questions about the balance between national security and its role in engaging younger audiences.
As his inauguration approaches, Trump’s bold promises signal an aggressive start to his second term, with sweeping changes on the horizon for both immigration policy and the tech landscape.
