Netanyahu calls social media a ‘weapon,’ eyes TikTok and X to bolster US support
By Newsroom
September 27, 2025 02:47 PM GMT+03:00
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Friday that his government views social media platforms as a “weapon” to secure support among right-wing audiences in the United States, identifying TikTok and X as key targets.
Speaking at a meeting with U.S. influencers at Israel’s Consulate General in New York, Netanyahu described social media as “the most important weapon … to secure our base in the U.S.,” according to a video shared on influencer Debra Lea’s account on X.
Focus on TikTok and XNetanyahu called TikTok “the most important purchase going on right now,” suggesting its control could be “consequential.” He also stressed the importance of X, formerly Twitter, adding: “We have to talk to Elon (Musk). He’s not an enemy, he’s a friend.”
By signaling that Israel’s attention would shift to X after TikTok, Netanyahu argued that influence over both platforms would yield significant gains. “If we can get TikTok and X, we’ll get a lot,” he said.
Netanyahu’s remarks came one day after U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order certifying that a deal transferring TikTok’s U.S. operations to an American consortium meets national security requirements.
The consortium is expected to include Oracle, Michael Dell, Rupert Murdoch and other investors. Oracle, led by founder Larry Ellison — a vocal supporter of Israel — will play a major role in managing TikTok’s U.S. operations. The executive order stated that “all U.S. user data will be stored in a trusted, secret, and specially designed cloud environment operated by Oracle.”
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