In a strategic move that the White House asserts had been in progress for several weeks, the administration recently made its presence felt on Threads, the Meta rival to Elon Musk’s X social media platform.

Read Also | Threads by Meta to Introduce Trending Topics, Competing with X

This development unfolded mere days after the White House, along with others, openly criticized Musk for the amplification and endorsement of an anti-Semitic post.

Amidst the ensuing controversy, major media players such as Comcast, The Walt Disney Co., and Warner Bros. Discovery opted to temporarily halt advertising on X, formerly known as Twitter. Simultaneously, X took legal action on Monday, filing a lawsuit against media watchdog group Media Matters.

The platform alleged defamation after Media Matters published a report claiming that ads for prominent brands had appeared adjacent to posts promoting Nazism.

In response to these dynamics, the White House took the step of establishing its official account on Threads, along with accounts for the president, First Lady, vice president, and second gentleman. Furthermore, a spokesperson for President Joe Biden’s re-election campaign revealed plans for both the president and Vice President Kamala Harris to launch personal accounts on Threads.

Explaining the rationale behind this move, White House spokeswoman Robyn Patterson stated, “We are committed to meeting people where they are.” This decision not only aligns with the administration’s outreach strategy but also serves to provide Threads, under the control of Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg, with enhanced credibility.

The White House’s endorsement of Threads also coincides with a notable trend, as influential public figures publicly announce their transition from X to Threads, citing concerns over Musk’s behavior as a driving force behind this shift.

Read Also | Meta Introduces Edit Button and Voice Threads: What You Need to Know

This strategic move by the White House reflects the evolving dynamics of the social media landscape and underscores the importance of carefully navigating such platforms amidst the backdrop of public scrutiny and controversy.