Former President Donald Trump has recently highlighted his perceived influence on TikTok, repeatedly claiming to be the platform's "No. 1" user. In a video shared from the Oval Office, Trump displayed a graphic asserting he was the "MOST FOLLOWED" and "WATCHED" world leader on TikTok, according to a CNBC analysis.
Despite this assertion, Trump is not the most-followed individual on the platform. That distinction belongs to TikTok star Khaby Lame, who boasts over 162.4 million followers. Trump's account has approximately 16.7 million followers, a considerable difference.
The graphic Trump referenced, purportedly sent by TikTok CEO Shou Chew, also pointed to 425 billion all-time views on videos tagged with "#Trump." It additionally cited billions of views associated with content related to his administration's projects, foreign policy achievements, and a White House event.
However, as noted by J.D. Wolf of MeidasTouch, these viewership figures encompass all forms of content, including supportive, neutral, and critical posts. Videos discussing various aspects of the administration's work would be included in these broad metrics.
During his video, Trump remarked on the influence of other users while questioning how he could be No. 1 if they possessed greater influence, suggesting his own significant impact on the platform. He concluded the clip with the statement, "And I’m saying, ‘Stop communism!’"
This claim followed shortly after Trump's assertion that Taylor Swift, who has around 33.5 million TikTok followers, was "No. 11" on the platform.