The White House continues to court social media influencers on TikTok, despite President Joe Biden threatening their very livelihood by supporting a ban on their platform.
Their latest briefing featured the president’s new plan to cancel student loans, as they invited a group of about 30 social media influencers to the White House for a special briefing.
The president and Vice President Kamala Harris kicked off the week announcing plans to wipe out another $7.4 billion in student loan debt for 277,000 borrowers.
Popular political influencers such as Harry Sisson, with over 850,000 followers on TikTok and Vitus Shehar, with over three million followers on TikTok with Under the Desk News were present for the briefing.
Vice President Kamala Harris visits William Cramp Elementary School on Monday, April 8, 2024
The White House welcomed about 30 social media influencers to the White House to talk about student loan forgiveness
Viviann Anguiano, the Director of Education on President Biden’s domestic policy council, addressed the group together with Neera Tanden, President Biden’s Domestic Policy Council.
Together they reassured the group that they, among other young Americans, would not have to pay part of their student loans, thanks to the actions by President Biden.
Not all of the influencers were currently paying off student loans but some were more thrilled by the news as they were personally affected.
Some in the the group were hesitant, according to one person who was present, knowing that Biden’s first attempt to cancel student loans was blocked by the Supreme Court.
US President of the United States Joe Biden delivers remarks on student debt and lowering costs for Americans at Madison College in Madison, Wisconsin
Students demonstrates about student loan debt outside the Supreme Court, June 30, 2023, in Washington.
Anguiano reassured them that they viewed the Supreme Court’s ruling as wrong, and that they were using different authorities this time in reaction to the ruling.
‘We’re doing everything we can to ensure that — as we view broader fixes on our proposals that those are being provided and the relief is being provided to borrowers,’ she said.
The White House continues pushing forward on the student loan issue despite likely court challenges which could easily result in the plan being rolled back. But the president and his team will likely reap the political benefits of the issue in time for the 2024 election.