Senator Rand Paul joined TikTok as a form of civil disobedience today because he says he doesn’t like being told what to do.
Why am I joining @tiktok_us just as the government ban begins?
Because I don’t like being told what to do.
I don’t like being told what I can think or say.
The courts may think @tiktok_us is excluded from the first amendment.
I don’t.
I join @tiktok_us today as a form of…
— Rand Paul (@RandPaul) January 18, 2025
Why am I joining @tiktok_us just as the government ban begins? Because I don’t like being told what to do.
I don’t like being told what I can think or say. The courts may think @tiktok_us is excluded from the first amendment.
I don’t. I join @tiktok_us today as a form of civil disobedience. To the 170 million Americans using @tiktok_us: Don’t give in and don’t give up. Resist.>
But some quickly responded, slamming Paul for trying to make this about free speech:
This isn’t about free speech and you know it. This is irresponsible.
— Marina Medvin 🇺🇸 (@MarinaMedvin) January 18, 2025
I love Rand Paul but if your libertarianism causes you to take a principled stand on behalf of the CCP, maybe rethink your position. https://t.co/FpRIk67FZ4
— Eric Shaffer (@realEricShaffer) January 18, 2025
Stop trying to make this TikTok ban a free speech thing. It’s not.
Free speech isn’t permitted on TikTok. It never has been.
Fight to keep it if you want to fight to keep it, but let’s not pretend it’s about free speech. https://t.co/LZ8EUjyyAa
— Natalie Jean Beisner (@NJBeisner) January 18, 2025
Sticking up for freedom and free speech by ultimately supporting the interests of…the Chinese Communist Party?
(And no, the government isn't telling you what you can and can't say. It's saying which FOREIGN INTERESTS can and can't own a major social media company in the U.S.) https://t.co/Gjl5OwdpBu pic.twitter.com/9MTnTSshr4
— Tom Shugart (@tshugart3) January 18, 2025
This is exactly when libertarianism goes too far. https://t.co/lChTcrw6tm
— Matthew Marsden (@matthewdmarsden) January 18, 2025
I love #RandPaul, but as #SCOTUS properly ruled, there is no free speech issue with the #TikTok ban. The platform can absolutely be shut down as a national security threat. Still not sure I agree with the ban, but it is completely constitutional. https://t.co/U1DftbTXQp
— Mark Davis (@MarkDavis) January 18, 2025