What To Know
- The Department of Justice has declared TikTok to be safe on government-issued phones now that it’s owned by an American-led company.
- Following the news, several of Donald Trump’s cabinet members have made accounts on the app.
- Jimmy Fallon roasted the politicians’ move and joked that TikTok is the “new Facebook.”
Jimmy Fallon kicked off the July 22 episode of The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon with some jokes about President Donald Trump and his cabinet.
“I saw that most of President Trump’s cabinet just launched their own TikTok accounts,” he told the audience, pointing out that “people are talking about this” right now.
“Right now, TikTok is like, ‘Oh no, are we the new Facebook?’” he joked. “I’m sure Gen Z will be like, ‘Oh my God, you’ll never believe what the Secretary of the Interior Doug Bergum just posted. Slay!’”
The politicians joined the social media app after it was declared to be safe for federal employees by the Justice Department. In addition to Bergum, Robert F. Kennedy, Sean Duffy, Markwayne Mullin, Kelly Loeffler, Dr. Mehmet Oz, and more also joined TikTok.
Trump and his cabinet previously deemed TikTok to be unsafe, claiming it was a national security threat due to Chinese ownership. In 2022, the No TikTok on Government Devices Act stated that government-issued phones were not allowed to install the app. But with TikTok now being owned by a United States company, the DOJ has changed its tune.
The White House posted a video to share the news about several cabinet members joining TikTok. Trump himself even appeared at the end of the montage, although he has had the platform since 2024. His most recent post was used to announce the Freedom 250 Grand Prix in August.
Per the event’s website, “The Freedom 250 Grand Prix of Washington, D.C., will take place Aug. 22-23, 2026, marking the first‑ever NTT INDYCAR SERIES race on the National Mall. The event will be administered by INDYCAR in coordination with the taskforce, U.S. Department of Transportation, U.S. Department of the Interior and Washington, D.C.’s Executive Office of the Mayor. The free, two-day motorsports event will celebrate America’s 250th anniversary with world‑class racing set against the backdrop of some of America’s most historic landmarks including the Washington Monument and the U.S. Capitol. The unique street race will be broadcast live on FOX on Sunday, August 23.”
The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, Weeknights, 11:35/10:35c, NBC