Mike Pence Launches A $2 Million Ad Campaign Advocating For A Tiktok Ban
Ex-Vice President Mike Pence initiated a $2 million dollar advertising campaign aimed at urging the Senate to support the House bill mandating the Chinese-owned ByteDance to divest TikTok's U.S. operations or risk prohibition.
Advancing American Freedom (AAF), a conservative advocacy group spearheaded by Pence, revealed plans to roll out the campaign next week across pivotal states for the upcoming November elections: Montana, Nevada, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, and Washington, D.C. These regions are also focal points for TikTok's extensive advertising efforts, amounting to $2.1 million, amidst the Senate's impending decision.
As part of AAF's initiative, footage of Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer advocating for the closure of Chinese-owned TikTok in the United States is featured, alongside appeals from voters urging him and other senators to support the divestment of the popular short-form video app.
Pence, 64, emphasized the urgency for the Senate to pass the bill before Memorial Day, warning against potential delays due to political maneuvering and posturing, which could leave the legislation unresolved for the remainder of the 2024 election cycle.
TikTok has initiated its own advertising campaign exceeding $2 million in crucial election states, aimed at persuading senators to reject the bill, which easily cleared the House. The targeted states for TikTok's new ads include New York and Massachusetts, significant hubs for young demographics and media professionals, respectively, as well as Minnesota, the home state of Democratic Senator Amy Klobuchar, known for her outspoken criticism of the platform.
In addition to the advertising campaign, TikTok has encouraged its users to inundate congressional offices with calls urging them to vote against the bill. However, some officials have reported receiving threatening calls from certain users.
The bill garnered an overwhelming 352-65 majority in the House vote last month. Rather than an outright ban, the legislation would compel ByteDance, TikTok's parent company based in China, to divest from the app within 180 days of the bill being enacted into law, or risk removal from app stores in the United States.
Despite its swift approval in the House and President Joe Biden's expressed intention to sign the bill if it passes the Senate, its prospects in the Senate remain uncertain.
