White House Briefs TikTok Stars on Ukraine

CLAY: Thirty TikTok stars have received a briefing from the White House on the war in Ukraine, according to the Washington Post. “On Thursday afternoon, 30 top TikTok stars gathered on a Zoom call to receive key information about the war unfolding in Ukraine. ” This news just coming out. I just… I mean, I understand the White House probably would sit around, Buck, and say, “Well, we need to make sure that young people understand the consequences and significance of what’s going on in Ukraine.”

But the idea of the White House convening a briefing for 30 top TikTok stars? First of all, I hope Joe Biden talked to them, because I love the idea of Joe Biden having to be explained what TikTok is in and of itself. But this is just… This is like when they had the influencers. Remember when they had, like, the ridiculous —

BUCK: Of course. That guy who came in —

CLAY: — with the long fingernails who was gay or whatever.

BUCK: The handbag and the long nails and the whole thing?

CLAY: I don’t know who that guy is, by the way.

BUCK: (laughing) I do not either.

CLAY: I understand he’s influential online in some way, but I don’t know that I’d want him at the White House.

BUCK: I will say this: We as conservatives, we look at an administration that is just fundamentally unserious. It’s doing serious damage but it’s unserious people who are making these very important decisions. But they do understand marketing and propaganda and will turn around and say, “Why is it…?”

CLAY: Yeah.

BUCK: To the point about, you remember we were having the discussion about —

CLAY: Eighteen to 34 year olds won’t fight. Why would they not fight if we got invaded?

BUCK: You look at TikTok, you look at these platforms. They are making kids… They are convincing them of politics and of narratives on a regular basis.