Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) made his debut on TikTok this week with a video honoring his late vacuum cleaner, Beth, a household appliance that had become an unlikely social media star. The 92-year-old senator joined the platform on Wednesday, posting a montage of photos and clips featuring Beth, set to the tune of Wiz Khalifa and Charlie Puth's “See You Again.”
“Only feels appropriate to pay homage to Beth,” Grassley wrote in the caption. The video shows Grassley vacuuming his home with Beth, a Hoover model that has been in his family for nearly five decades.
The move is a notable pivot for Grassley, who in 2024 voiced strong concerns about TikTok’s data security, alleging that the Chinese Communist Party could access American user data. He also advocated for “divesting TikTok from foreign adversary hands” at the time, aligning with legislative efforts to force a sale or ban of the app.
His new presence on the platform comes amid ongoing debates over TikTok’s future in the U.S., including recent policy shifts such as the OMB ending a ban on TikTok for government devices. Grassley’s participation also follows his May hearing with TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew and other tech leaders on child safety, where he promised to “shine a bright light” and “hold Big Tech accountable.”
Beth the vacuum had already gained a following on Grassley’s other social media accounts, where he frequently posted about her. In August, he announced her retirement after she began sparking at the power cord, writing on X: “It’s not safe to use anymore. GOOD BYE BETH . U hv been a real workhorse. Ur namesake still is hard worker. I will miss u.”
Grassley’s first TikTok video also marked his arrival on the platform, with him telling viewers, “I’m announcing today that I’m on Tiktok. I hope you will follow me.” The caption urged users to “follow along for updates, behind-the-scenes content and more from the senator!”
In the video, Grassley appears to be sipping a Dairy Queen milkshake, a nod to his 2014 post praising the Windsor Heights Dairy Queen as “a good place for u kno what.”
Grassley’s TikTok launch underscores the complex relationship between lawmakers and the platform, as some who have criticized TikTok now use it to reach voters. His earlier tribute to Beth had already drawn attention, and his new account is likely to attract both supporters and critics.
The senator’s move also comes as Meta’s landmark settlement pressures TikTok and YouTube to adopt stricter teen safety rules, a topic Grassley has been vocal about. His presence on the platform may give him a direct channel to address such issues with younger audiences.
