Does Biden's Family Use TikTok? Jean-Pierre: 'They Are Private Citizens' (March 16, 2023)

As the Biden administration backed legislation that could lead to a TikTok ban, a reporter asked whether the Chinese-owned app was in the President’s own family. “President Biden has said before that he himself does not have TikTok on his phone. Do you know if any of his grandchildren or any other family members who he spends time with has it on their phones?” [1]

“I do not know,” press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said [1].

“Can you find out? I mean, he spends time with them, so they —” the reporter asked. “I hear you, he spends time with them. But — I hear you,” she said [1].

The reporter added that “he’s been influenced by them before to make Tik Toks.” Jean-Pierre shut it down. “I hear — I just — it’s just — it’s just not something that I’m aware of and I’m just not going to speak to. They are private citizens. I’m just not going to speak to what they have on their phones or not,” she said [1].

The video above shows the exchange at the March 16, 2023, briefing. Quotes are from the official transcript published by the American Presidency Project [1].

”The President’s Greatest Fear”

Earlier, another reporter asked the big question. “A question on TikTok. Over 100 million people now use this app. What is your message to them about why you’re so concerned about this platform? What is the President’s greatest fear about TikTok?” [1]

The answer was interrupted. The transcript notes that “A cellphone disrupts the briefing,” and after a reporter’s inaudible remark, Jean-Pierre said, “Oh, budget TikTok,” to laughter [1].

Then she answered: “So, look, we’ve expressed concerns over China’s potential use of software platforms that could endanger or threaten America’s safety and their national security. So that is the President’s concern.” [1]

“What Changed?”

The reporter noted a shift. “You know, last month, the President said he wasn’t sure if the U.S. should ban TikTok when he was asked about this. Now the administration seems to be hardening its stance.” Then: “What changed?” [1]

“So, look, when it comes to CFIUS, which is — I’m not going to get ahead of CFIUS,” Jean-Pierre said, referring to the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States [1].

”Is There Evidence?”

The same reporter raised Beijing’s defense. “You know, China says that the U.S. hasn’t presented evidence that this app threatens U.S. national security. They say that this is simply about suppressing foreign companies. Is there evidence that the U.S. has that has been presented?” [1]

“Look, what I can say is: CFIUS has a process that they’re going through. We’re going to let them go through their process,” Jean-Pierre said. “And so, we’re not going to get ahead of the review.” [1]

A “Loaded Gun”

A third reporter cited the head of the National Security Agency. “The NSA Director General has called TikTok a ‘loaded gun’ because so many Americans rely on it both for social media and its — they get their news from TikTok. Does the President, does the administration agree with that assessment?” [1]

“I’m just not going to get ahead of any — any comments that’s been made on TikTok at this time,” Jean-Pierre said [1].

“Let me try it this way: Does the President think that Americans should be on TikTok?” the reporter asked. “Again, I’m not going to — I’m not going to speak to — to that,” Jean-Pierre answered. “But I’m not going to speak to actions that the American people should take or not take.” [1]

“I Don’t Have Any Conversations to Read Out”

Another reporter asked whether the White House had talked with the review panel. “But has there been any communication between the White House and CFIUS on the issue of TikTok?” [1]

“I — I don’t have any conversations to read out at this time,” Jean-Pierre said [1].

By the Numbers

100 million: people using TikTok, per a reporter’s question [1].
30 days: the deadline the administration gave agencies to purge TikTok from federal devices, per Fox News [3].
170 million: Americans using TikTok, per Trump’s 2025 order [4].
Under 20 percent: ByteDance’s share of the new U.S. venture under Trump’s framework [4].
120 days: the enforcement pause in that order [4].

What Happened Next

Biden’s campaign joined TikTok. “President Biden’s re-election campaign has joined TikTok in an effort to woo young voters after the administration banned the Chinese-owned app from federal devices over security concerns,” Fox News reported on Feb. 12, 2024 [3].

Then Biden signed the sell-or-ban law. Public Law 118-50, “Approved April 24, 2024,” included the “Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act” [2].

Trump found a way to keep the app. On Sept. 25, 2025, President Donald Trump signed an order backing a deal under which TikTok’s U.S. app “will be operated by a newly established joint venture based in the United States. It will be majority-owned and controlled by United States persons and will no longer be controlled by any foreign adversary” [4].

“Accordingly, I have determined that the proposed divestiture would allow the millions of Americans who enjoy TikTok every day to continue using it,” the order says [4].

For the TikTok question at the March 8, 2023, briefing, see HYGO News’ page on the March 8 briefing. For another answer at the same briefing, see the page on the Willow oil project.