In the Biden White House’s Secret Briefing to TikTokers on Student Loans: Young Influencers Told They’ll Never Have to Pay Back Their Debts — But Not Everyone Is Convinced
- The White House continues to court social media influencers with special briefings
- Welcome influencers who are paying off their student loans
- Biden announced plans this week to cancel $277,000 in student debt
The White House continues to sue social media influencers on TikTok, despite President Joe Biden threatening their livelihoods by supporting a ban on the platform.
Their latest briefing was on the president’s new plan to cancel student loans, when they invited a group of about 30 social media influencers to the White House for a special briefing.
President and Vice President Kamala Harris kicked off the week by announcing plans to wipe out another $7.4 billion in student 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 at 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 education director of President Biden’s Domestic Policy Council, addressed the group along with Neera Tanden, President Biden’s Domestic Policy Council.
Together they assured the group that they, like other young Americans, would not have to pay off part of their student debt thanks to President Biden’s actions.
Not all influencers were currently paying off student loans, but some were more excited about the news because they were personally affected.
Some in the group hesitated, said one person present, knowing that Biden’s first attempt to cancel student loans was blocked by the Supreme Court.
US President Joe Biden makes comments about student debt and lowering costs for Americans at Madison College in Madison, Wisconsin
Students demonstrate over student loan debt outside the Supreme Court, June 30, 2023, in Washington.
Anguiano assured them that they viewed the Supreme Court ruling as wrong, and that this time they used different authorities in response to the ruling.
“We are doing everything we can to ensure that – as we see broader solutions to our proposals, that they are provided and that the relief is provided to borrowers,” she said.
The White House continues to tackle the student loan issue despite potential lawsuits that could easily lead to the plan being reversed. But the president and his team are likely to reap the political benefits of the issue in time for the 2024 elections.