TikTok Meets MAGA: Inside the Power 30 Gala Hosted by Raquel Debono

Just hours before TikTok faces a possible U.S. ban, conservative influencers will take center stage at the Power 30 Awards gala in Washington, D.C.—an event backed by TikTok itself. Hosted by Date Right’s Raquel Debono and activist CJ Pearson, the gala honors Gen Z influencers who helped redefine political discourse during the 2024 election.

Raquel Debono called the event “ironic” yet “pretty cool,” highlighting how a platform often perceived as liberal is now sponsoring a celebration of right-wing creators. Attendees include Bryce Hall, Riley Gaines, Matt Walsh, and even TikTok CEO Shou Chew. As red spotlights flood the Sax Lounge and McDonald’s fries are served, Debono’s message is clear: Gen Z conservatives are here, influential, and not backing down.

Beyond D.C., Debono will also host a cheeky Date Right event in NYC titled We’re So Back: Return of the Don, showing that conservative culture is gaining ground, even in “liberal hell.” With the GOP reconsidering its stance on TikTok, the night signals a cultural shift where politics, media, and entertainment collide.

Adapted from Newsweek’s article by Katherine Fung, published January 16, 2025.