GOP members in Congress are joining TikTok after years of speaking out against the app and are going viral.
Following in the footsteps of Democrat lawmakers who have been on the app for years, Republican lawmakers are gaining millions of views and reaching the younger generation of voters.
Last year, TikTok, the social media platform known for its short-form video content and addictive algorithm, was at the center of a data privacy concern. The platform was created and founded by a Chinese technology company, ByteDance, with links to the Chinese Communist Party.
Many in the Republican Party were concerned the CCP had access to billions of Americans’ personal data. The Trump administration, along with conservative groups like The Heritage Foundation, saw this as an immediate threat.
In 2025, Congress voted to force the sale of the company, which was finalized in January 2026. ByteDance sold 80% of the American app to TikTok USDS Joint Venture LLC, where Oracle owns the largest stake, at 15%. However, ByteDance still controls roughly 20%.
Sen. John Kennedy, R-La., joined the app just a few weeks ago and has gained more than 500,000 followers, quickly surpassing Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, who has gained about 21,000 followers since joining in February. Clips of Kennedy and his quippy comedy often went viral on the app, so now he has his own account to collect them.
“I’ve seen videos of where other people have recorded what I’ve said on TikTok. … So now I have a TikTok account. I just want to use it to tell you a little bit about me, to the extent that you care, and tell you a little bit about what it’s like to be a United States Senator,” Kennedy said in one video posted to the app.
“My staff keeps telling me to make videos, [to] ‘just be normal,’ and I tell them, ‘Hell, nobody’s normal in the United States Senate.’ In fact, the United States Senate only works when everybody isn’t crazy at the same time,” Kennedy said in another.
While most members use their accounts to repost news clips, Kennedy and his staff have found what really works on the video app: real, raw, original content. Just this week, he posted a video about his home decor and workout elliptical, which he named “Margaret,” after former UK Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, because they both “kick butt and take names.”
Rep. Tim Burchett, R-Tenn., has also found his niche on TikTok. He often films daily videos explaining policy or a vote that just took place while he walks around the Capitol.
Rep. Brandon Gill, R-Texas, has a combined following of more than 400,000, where he often shares viral clips from congressional hearings and content with his family back in his district.
Another House member on the rise on the platform is Rep. Zach Nunn, R-Iowa, who joined in January after the sale was finalized.
The White House, President Donald Trump, and Vice President JD Vance have been on the app since August 2025 and have millions of followers.
Former Vice President Kamala Harris launched an account during her campaign, quickly gaining millions of young followers. Democrat lawmakers like Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Ilhan Omar, and Elizabeth Warren also do well on the app.
The average TikTok user is age 18-34, a highly sought-after voter demographic. With campaign season upon us and midterm elections right around the corner, it’s no wonder that so many politicians are using the platform.
