Gavin Newsom Blasts Trump After TikTok Flags ‘Epstein’ Under New Rules

Name: Gavin Newsom Blasts Trump After TikTok Flags ‘Epstein’ Under New Rules
Uploaded: 2026-01-27T15:52:27+00:00
Duration: 2 min 1 s
Channel: The Inquisitr

The Inquisitr

Newsom vs. TikTok: California Launches Review Over "Epstein" Censorship Claims
In a major escalation of the feud between Sacramento and the #WhiteHouse, Governor Gavin Newsom has officially called for a state-level review of TikTok’s content moderation policies. The move comes after widespread reports surfaced on January 26, 2026, claiming that the platform was blocking users from sending messages containing the word "Epstein." Newsom alleged that the platform—now under new #USOwnership following a deal involving major #Trump supporters—is suppressing content critical of the President and his past associations.

The #TikTokCensorship controversy erupted just days after the app’s U.S. operations were finalized in a sale to a consortium including Oracle, led by billionaire and Trump ally Larry Ellison. While TikTok has officially denied intentionally blocking the word, blaming the issue on a "major infrastructure issue" and a data center power outage, critics like Newsom aren't buying it. The Governor has tasked the California Department of Justice to determine if these "unexplained" restrictions violate state consumer protection or #FreeSpeech laws.

As the #TrumpNewsom rivalry intensifies, the "Epstein" word-ban has become a lightning rod for concerns over #SocialMediaBias and the influence of political donors on digital platforms. This video dives into the technical "glitches" reported by users, the details of Newsom’s #CAInquiry, and the broader implications for #Democracy and #PressFreedom in 2026.

#TikTok #GavinNewsom #DonaldTrump #Epstein #BreakingNews #USPolitics #FreeSpeech #Censorship #California #TrumpNews #TikTokSale #LarryEllison #SocialMediaNews #DOJ #Trending2026

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00:00California Governor Gavin Newsom has blamed the Trump administration after users reported that TikTok began flagging the word Epstein as a community guidelines violation, prompting a state-level review into alleged censorship on the platform.

00:12Newsom announced the review after TikTok users claimed their content was being suppressed following the platform's recent ownership transition.

00:19TikTok finalized the change last week, with Oracle acquiring a stake in the company.

00:23Oracle founder Larry Ellison is a longtime supporter of President Donald Trump.

00:27Users reported difficulties uploading videos critical of immigration and customs enforcement, particularly footage related to anti-IC demonstrations in Minneapolis.

00:36On Monday, several users said posts containing the word Epstein, referencing convicted sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein, were flagged or blocked.

00:43Responding to screenshots of restricted posts, Newsom wrote on X that it was time to investigate, adding that he was launching a review into whether TikTok is violating state law by censoring content critical of President Trump.

00:54TikTok stated last Thursday that it created a new corporate entity called TikTok-USDS Joint Venture.

01:02The entity is meant to ensure compliance with the 2024 law, upheld by the Supreme Court, requiring the platform to separate from Chinese ownership.

01:10Implementation of the law had been delayed multiple times by the Trump administration until last week.

01:15TikTok said the joint venture would retrain, test, and update its content recommendation algorithm using U.S. user data.

01:22Following the ownership change at TikTok, users reported a surge in account deletions.

01:28CNBC reported deletions increased by 150% after the transition.

01:33The issue intensified after the fatal shooting of a second U.S. citizen by ICE agents in Minnesota.

01:40When TikTok became a major outlet for ICE-related content.

01:43An alleged data center outage during that period fueled speculation of deliberate suppression.

01:50Drop your thoughts in the comments and don't forget to like for more breaking political news.