Trump claims TikTok dominance despite lacking top ranking

Donald Trump has again asserted his dominance on TikTok, claiming to be the platform's number one user. This assertion comes despite his account not appearing in the top 50 most followed users. Trump cited a recent, albeit fabricated, report, stating, "I am number one on TikTok, and all I do is talk about communism." He further claimed that artists like Taylor Swift were ranked much lower, calling the situation "crazy."

“

I am number one on TikTok, and all I do is talk about communism.

Trump has repeatedly referenced his supposed TikTok success, linking it to his warnings against democratic socialist candidates ahead of the November legislative elections. He previously stated he was "the number one person by a large margin" on the platform, even comparing himself to Taylor Swift, who he said was "number 11."

However, data contradicts Trump's claims. While the former president has approximately 16.7 million followers, Taylor Swift boasts over 33.5 million. According to tracking tool Social Blade, the top TikTok users include Khaby Lame with 162.3 million followers, followed by Charlie D'Amelio and Mr Beast. The 50th spot is held by footballer Neymar Jr. with 45.8 million followers.

“

Never heard numbers like that, but I am number one, and all those artists are at 27 or 29, it's crazy.

This situation unfolds against the backdrop of TikTok's operational changes in the U.S. In January, its parent company, ByteDance, sold most of its U.S. operations to an American consortium to ensure the app's continued availability in the country. These U.S. companies now handle data protection and content moderation.

“

I had been announced two days ago that I was the number one person by far on the platform and Taylor Swift was number 11.