Trump quickly racked up millions of followers on TikTok. AFP
Trump quickly racked up millions of followers on TikTok. AFP
Trump quickly racked up millions of followers on TikTok. AFP
Trump quickly racked up millions of followers on TikTok. AFP

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US

Trump joins TikTok and quickly gets more followers than Biden campaign

Trump's first video has been viewed about 69 million times

The National

June 03, 2024

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Donald Trump by Monday had racked up more than 4.2 million followers on TikTok, the popular platform he once tried to ban, after just two days.

Trump's inaugural TikTok video at the weekend showed him walking into a Mixed Martial Arts event in New Jersey where a crowd of mostly young men gave him a rapturous welcome.

His appearance came just two days after he was convicted of 34 felony counts in New York.

At the event, Trump appeared to tell former UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov that he was going to “stop” the war in Palestine, although audio of the brief exchange was not clear.

The video had been watched nearly 69 million times as of Monday afternoon.

Trump tried to ban TikTok in 2020 when he was president, but courts blocked the move.

In March, he said the platform was a national security threat but that a ban on it would hurt some young people and only strengthen Facebook, which he has strongly criticised.

President Joe Biden's election campaign is already on TikTok, with more than 340,000 followers, although he has signed a bill that would ban the app, which is used by 170 million Americans, if its Chinese owner ByteDance fails to sell it.

TikTok is suing the US government over the new law.

Mr Biden does not have a personal account on TikTok.

Trump's decision to join the platform could help him to reach younger voters in his third bid for the White House.

He and Mr Biden are in a close race before the November 5 presidential election.

Trump has 87.2 million followers on X, compared to Mr Biden's 38 million, but the former president does most of his social media posting on his own platform, Truth Social.

  • On Truth Social, a social media platform founded by Donald Trump after he was banned from Twitter, conversation is often limited to sycophantic memes and conspiratorial memes. Photo: Screengrab from Truth Social
    On Truth Social, a social media platform founded by Donald Trump after he was banned from Twitter, conversation is often limited to sycophantic memes and conspiratorial memes. Photo: Screengrab from Truth Social
  • Almost all of Mr Trump's followers are die-hard supporters and criticism of the former president is rare. Photo: Screengrab from Truth Social
    Almost all of Mr Trump's followers are die-hard supporters and criticism of the former president is rare. Photo: Screengrab from Truth Social
  • Mr Trump's signature line on 'The Apprentice' was: 'You're Fired!' Photo: Screengrab from Truth Social
    Mr Trump's signature line on 'The Apprentice' was: 'You're Fired!' Photo: Screengrab from Truth Social
  • Many memes lionise the former president. Photo: Screengrab from Truth Social
    Many memes lionise the former president. Photo: Screengrab from Truth Social
  • Mr Trump hopes to get a second term in office in 2024. Photo: Screengrab from Truth Social
    Mr Trump hopes to get a second term in office in 2024. Photo: Screengrab from Truth Social
  • A not-true ReTruth: Trump-backed, election-denying candidate Kari Lake lost to Democrat Katie Dobbs in the Arizona governor race. Photo: Screengrab from Truth Social
    A not-true ReTruth: Trump-backed, election-denying candidate Kari Lake lost to Democrat Katie Dobbs in the Arizona governor race. Photo: Screengrab from Truth Social
  • Mr Trump suggests voter fraud in the Arizona governor race. Photo: Screengrab from Truth Social
    Mr Trump suggests voter fraud in the Arizona governor race. Photo: Screengrab from Truth Social
  • Mr Trump attacks Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, who may be well positioned to duel the former president in the 2024 White House race. Photo: Screengrab from Truth Social
    Mr Trump attacks Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, who may be well positioned to duel the former president in the 2024 White House race. Photo: Screengrab from Truth Social
  • Many Maga Republicans miss Mr Trump. Photo: Screengrab from Truth Social
    Many Maga Republicans miss Mr Trump. Photo: Screengrab from Truth Social
  • Mr Trump attacks mail-in ballots that allow millions of Americans who are unable to vote on election day to participate. Photo: Screengrab from Truth Social
    Mr Trump attacks mail-in ballots that allow millions of Americans who are unable to vote on election day to participate. Photo: Screengrab from Truth Social
  • Some of the Trump supporters that stormed the US Capitol on January 6, 2021, used American flags to attack police officers. Photo: Screengrab from Truth Social
    Some of the Trump supporters that stormed the US Capitol on January 6, 2021, used American flags to attack police officers. Photo: Screengrab from Truth Social
  • Supporters credit Mr Trump with not starting any new wars. Photo: Screengrab from Truth Social
    Supporters credit Mr Trump with not starting any new wars. Photo: Screengrab from Truth Social
  • How many moves in a game of chess? Photo: Screengrab from Truth Social
    How many moves in a game of chess? Photo: Screengrab from Truth Social
  • Another ReTruth. Photo: Screengrab from Truth Social
    Another ReTruth. Photo: Screengrab from Truth Social
  • The 'Greatest Of All Time'? That remains to be seen. Photo: Screengrab from Truth Social
    The 'Greatest Of All Time'? That remains to be seen. Photo: Screengrab from Truth Social
  • Mr Trump was expected to announce a new run for the White House on November 15. Photo: Screengrab from Truth Social
    Mr Trump was expected to announce a new run for the White House on November 15. Photo: Screengrab from Truth Social
  • Mr Trump blamed Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell for Republicans' poor showing in the midterm elections. Photo: Screengrab from Truth Social
    Mr Trump blamed Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell for Republicans' poor showing in the midterm elections. Photo: Screengrab from Truth Social
  • Mr Trump still attracts fierce loyalty from his 'Maga' supporters. Photo: Screengrab from Truth Social
    Mr Trump still attracts fierce loyalty from his 'Maga' supporters. Photo: Screengrab from Truth Social
  • Mr Trump suggests he would perform better than Ron DeSantis. Photo: Screengrab from Truth Social
    Mr Trump suggests he would perform better than Ron DeSantis. Photo: Screengrab from Truth Social
  • A variation on the election-denying theme. Photo: Screengrab from Truth Social
    A variation on the election-denying theme. Photo: Screengrab from Truth Social
  • Mr Trump has continued to make his baseless claims of election fraud in races he or his fellow Republicans lost. Photo: Screengrab from Truth Social
    Mr Trump has continued to make his baseless claims of election fraud in races he or his fellow Republicans lost. Photo: Screengrab from Truth Social
  • Another ReTruth. Photo: Screengrab from Truth Social
    Another ReTruth. Photo: Screengrab from Truth Social
  • Mr Trump returns to his debunked claims of widespread election fraud. Photo: Screengrab from Truth Social
    Mr Trump returns to his debunked claims of widespread election fraud. Photo: Screengrab from Truth Social
  • Another teaser for his November 15 announcement. Photo: Screengrab from Truth Social
    Another teaser for his November 15 announcement. Photo: Screengrab from Truth Social
  • Mr Trump 'ReTruths' a message from a follower. Photo: Screengrab from Truth Social
    Mr Trump 'ReTruths' a message from a follower. Photo: Screengrab from Truth Social
  • The 'legend' will be 78 at the 2024 election, the same age Joe Biden was when he got elected. Photo: Screengrab from Truth Social
    The 'legend' will be 78 at the 2024 election, the same age Joe Biden was when he got elected. Photo: Screengrab from Truth Social
  • Mr Trump is expected to announce he will run again for president in 2024. Photo: Screengrab from Truth Social
    Mr Trump is expected to announce he will run again for president in 2024. Photo: Screengrab from Truth Social
  • Mr Trump teases his announcement on November 15. Photo: Screengrab from Truth Social
    Mr Trump teases his announcement on November 15. Photo: Screengrab from Truth Social
  • Truth Social is only available in the US, Canada and Brazil. Reuters
    Truth Social is only available in the US, Canada and Brazil. Reuters
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Mercer, the investment consulting arm of US services company Marsh & McLennan, expects its wealth division to at least double its assets under management (AUM) in the Middle East as wealth in the region continues to grow despite economic headwinds, a company official said.

Mercer Wealth, which globally has $160 billion in AUM, plans to boost its AUM in the region to $2-$3bn in the next 2-3 years from the present $1bn, said Yasir AbuShaban, a Dubai-based principal with Mercer Wealth.

“Within the next two to three years, we are looking at reaching $2 to $3 billion as a conservative estimate and we do see an opportunity to do so,” said Mr AbuShaban.

Mercer does not directly make investments, but allocates clients’ money they have discretion to, to professional asset managers. They also provide advice to clients.

“We have buying power. We can negotiate on their (client’s) behalf with asset managers to provide them lower fees than they otherwise would have to get on their own,” he added.

Mercer Wealth’s clients include sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and insurance companies among others.

From its office in Dubai, Mercer also looks after Africa, India and Turkey, where they also see opportunity for growth.

Wealth creation in Middle East and Africa (MEA) grew 8.5 per cent to $8.1 trillion last year from $7.5tn in 2015, higher than last year’s global average of 6 per cent and the second-highest growth in a region after Asia-Pacific which grew 9.9 per cent, according to consultancy Boston Consulting Group (BCG). In the region, where wealth grew just 1.9 per cent in 2015 compared with 2014, a pickup in oil prices has helped in wealth generation.

BCG is forecasting MEA wealth will rise to $12tn by 2021, growing at an annual average of 8 per cent.

Drivers of wealth generation in the region will be split evenly between new wealth creation and growth of performance of existing assets, according to BCG.

Another general trend in the region is clients’ looking for a comprehensive approach to investing, according to Mr AbuShaban.

“Institutional investors or some of the families are seeing a slowdown in the available capital they have to invest and in that sense they are looking at optimizing the way they manage their portfolios and making sure they are not investing haphazardly and different parts of their investment are working together,” said Mr AbuShaban.

Some clients also have a higher appetite for risk, given the low interest-rate environment that does not provide enough yield for some institutional investors. These clients are keen to invest in illiquid assets, such as private equity and infrastructure.

“What we have seen is a desire for higher returns in what has been a low-return environment specifically in various fixed income or bonds,” he said.

“In this environment, we have seen a de facto increase in the risk that clients are taking in things like illiquid investments, private equity investments, infrastructure and private debt, those kind of investments were higher illiquidity results in incrementally higher returns.”

The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, one of the largest sovereign wealth funds, said in its 2016 report that has gradually increased its exposure in direct private equity and private credit transactions, mainly in Asian markets and especially in China and India. The authority’s private equity department focused on structured equities owing to “their defensive characteristics.”

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UAE: Thunder Snow/Saeed bin Suroor (trainer), North America/Satish Seemar, Drafted/Doug Watson, New Trails/Ahmad bin Harmash, Capezzano, Gronkowski, Axelrod, all trained by Salem bin Ghadayer

USA: Seeking The Soul/Dallas Stewart, Imperial Hunt/Luis Carvajal Jr, Audible/Todd Pletcher, Roy H/Peter Miller, Yoshida/William Mott, Promises Fulfilled/Dale Romans, Gunnevera/Antonio Sano, XY Jet/Jorge Navarro, Pavel/Doug O’Neill, Switzerland/Steve Asmussen.

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The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.


- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law 

Fixtures:

Wed Aug 29 – Malaysia v Hong Kong, Nepal v Oman, UAE v Singapore
Thu Aug 30 - UAE v Nepal, Hong Kong v Singapore, Malaysia v Oman
Sat Sep 1 - UAE v Hong Kong, Oman v Singapore, Malaysia v Nepal
Sun Sep 2 – Hong Kong v Oman, Malaysia v UAE, Nepal v Singapore
Tue Sep 4 - Malaysia v Singapore, UAE v Oman, Nepal v Hong Kong
Thu Sep 6 – Final

Updated: June 03, 2024, 8:14 PM
US election 2024Donald Trump