Trump joins TikTok: Which other politicians are on the platform?

After attempting to ban TikTok from the White House, former President Donald Trump created an account — just days after he was found guilty on all 34 felony counts in a hush money trial.

His page, @realdonaldtrump, has 5.1 million followers as of Tuesday, and his first and only video has over 80 million views and 5.4 million likes. He decided to launch his account from a UFC fight in Newark, New Jersey.

“It’s my honor,” he says in the video.

@realdonaldtrump Launching my TikTok at @UFC ♬ original sound - President Donald J Trump

“We will leave no front undefended and this represents the continued outreach to a younger audience consuming pro-Trump and anti-Biden content,” Trump spokesman Steven Cheung said in a statement to the Associated Press about the campaign’s decision to join the platform.

“There’s no place better than a UFC event to launch President Trump’s TikTok, where he received a hero’s welcome and thousands of fans cheered him on,” he added.

He joins numerous other politicians, including many prominent incumbents in Pennsylvania, on the platform.

U.S. Rep. Summer Lee has an account.

She voted against the legislation that could ban TikTok in the United States, which passed on a bipartisan 352-65 vote in March and would require the company to divest from its Chinese parent company, according to CNN.

“It is critical to hold social media companies accountable for protecting the privacy, security and safety of users. However, banning Tiktok is missing the forest for the trees,” she said in a statement to TribLive.

Lee said her office continues to use as many channels of communication to reach constituents as possible, with TikTok being one of them.

“Tiktok is a source of information for a wide swath of people — particularly young people and people of color,” she said in the statement.

U.S. Sen. John Fetterman from Pennsylvania also has a presence on TikTok, with over 239,000 followers and 3.7 million likes.

@johnfetterman

He has been outspoken in support of the bill.

Let me be very clear: this legislation to restrict TikTok does NOT ban the app.

It separates ties to the Chinese Communist Party ???????? and prevents them from accessing the data of Americans—especially our kids.

Leader Schumer should put this bill on the floor soon.

— John Fetterman (@JohnFetterman) March 13, 2024

U.S. Rep. Guy Reschenthaler from Pennsylvania has also been outspoken in favor of the legislation.

TikTok is a state-of-the-art propaganda machine and surveillance weapon for the CCP.

If TikTok wants to continue operating in the U.S., it must cut ties with Communist China.

— Guy Reschenthaler (@GReschenthaler) March 16, 2024

Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro has amassed quite a following on the app: at over 63,000 followers and over one million likes. He used the platform as a gubernatorial candidate, and he continues to use it as governor.

@joshshapiropa

“Governor Shapiro knows meeting people where they are is an important part of engaging with Pennsylvanians in every community across the commonwealth — and connecting with them online through the social media platforms they use daily is an important part of how the Shapiro administration shares critical updates,” said spokesperson Manuel Bonder.

Shapiro’s administration said the reason behind his presence on TikTok among other social media platforms is trying to reach as many Pennsylvanians as possible — especially young people.

“Governor Shapiro is focused on getting stuff done and showing Pennsylvanians that government can be a productive force for good, and an important part of communicating this message is trying to reach everyone and showing up where they are,” Bonder said.

If laws surrounding the platform’s use were to change, his administration said it would reevaluate.