Several prominent conservative creators say TikTok has been removing and demonetizing their videos as the November elections near, alleging targeted enforcement that reduces reach and income. Named creators report high flagging rates, removed documentaries and rejected appeals; some have sent a joint letter to TikTok and sought meetings with administration officials. TikTok did not respond to the outlet's request for comment, and a Pew survey shows TikTok is a major news source for younger Americans.
Conservative Creators Allege TikTok Is Removing and Demonetizing Videos Ahead of November Election
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Conservative social-media creators told the New York Post that TikTok has increasingly removed and demonetized their videos as the November elections approach, costing them audience reach and creator revenue.
Creators' Claims
Chloe Trapanotto (known as @itsallpolitics), who has nearly 500,000 TikTok followers, said roughly 80% of her videos were flagged after Aug. 12, when she posted a clip criticizing what she called the "new left" and quoting commentator Hasan Piker's remark that "America deserved 9/11." Trapanotto said the same video remained available on Instagram but disappeared from TikTok almost immediately. "I basically know every single video will be removed before I even press upload, so I miss out on creator funds and the ability to reach larger audiences," she told the Post.
Nate Friedman, an independent digital journalist with nearly 2 million followers across platforms, said TikTok removed his documentary "The Islamic Takeover of Manhattan" on Sept. 1, three days after he posted it. Friedman said the film had reached about 1.5 million views and that TikTok had been selling advertising against it. "They rejected my appeal and just cited 'community guidelines,'" he said, adding that his last three documentaries were censored or banned.
Xaviaer DuRousseau, a commentator with nearly 3 million followers across TikTok, Instagram and X, said several of his videos were removed for "hate speech," including a clip that aimed to explain why Asians have been particularly successful. He told the Post that the same content drew no objection on other platforms.
DuRousseau, Friedman and creator Avery Daye (who has more than 550,000 followers) sent a joint letter to TikTok and have reportedly raised the issue with administration officials. Daye told the Post she has largely stopped using the platform after repeated bans interrupted audience growth: "I would grow 100k-plus followers in a few months and then my account would get banned."
Letter and Government Context
"After President Trump acted to keep the app operating in the United States, conditions improved for a period. ... In recent months, the algorithm and guidelines enforcement have become aggressive, targeted, and unpredictable."
In January 2025, President Trump signed an executive order delaying enforcement of a federal divest-or-ban law for 75 days. TikTok's U.S. operations were subsequently placed under TikTok USDS Joint Venture LLC, an entity created to oversee data protection, algorithm security and content moderation. ByteDance still holds nearly a 20% stake in that joint venture, and the Post reported questions remain about how complete the separation is.
The Post also noted that some creators on the political left have reported content enforcement issues. TikTok did not respond to the Post's request for comment.
Audience and Electoral Implications
A Pew Research Center survey released in September 2025 found that 43% of U.S. adults under 30 regularly get news from TikTok, underscoring the platform's growing role in political information and the potential consequences of disputed moderation decisions during an election year.
Source: New York Post. © 2026 Newsmax. All rights reserved.
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