If you’ve spent any time on Twitter, Instagram, or Reddit since 2016, you’ve probably seen at least one Tweet, meme, or post from an individual named Jeff Tiedrich.
But, like, who is he?
On the surface, Mr. Tiedrich has managed to amass a social following over 1 million strong, simply by acting as a foil to Donald Trump’s (often unhinged) antics.
Tiedrich’s mix of policy call outs, personal jabs, and humorous outrage seem to resonate with the political left, and his content is shared widely across the major social media platforms.
So I was more than a little surprised when I Googled Tiedrich and found next to nothing on the man with 1M+ followers.
Though his tweets have appeared in mainstream media pieces, I couldn’t find a single profile on the man himself that wasn’t some outsourced clickbait SEO piece with unsupported claims.
So I set out on a quest to find the truth: Who is Jeff Tiedrich, who does he work for, and why does he Tweet?
Is Jeff Tiedrich even real? Or is he a manufactured creation of political strategists/bored teenagers?
With a blurry profile picture and a lacking Google presence, I can see how you may think Tiedrich’s nothing more than a fake profile. It’s easy enough to throw up a picture of a random man, create a name, and start tweeting. So, to start, is Jeff even real?
The answer seems to be yes.
The most compelling evidence I found for Tiedrich actually existing:
1. On his website donation page, he asks that donation checks be mailed c/o Jeff Tiedrich
2. On his Youtube channel, you can actually see him live on video playing guitar and he looks like the same person
Cynics will argue that this could all be part of an elaborate fakery involving false identities, mail fraud donations, deep-fake video renders of band practice…
But that seems like a lot of effort for something that no one really cares about.
I’m going with REAL.
How does Jeff Tiedrich make money? Who does he work for?
I was initially curious about Tiedrich’s professional life, as he seemed to have a natural talent for mass communications.
Much of Twitter is filled with reporters, political pundits, marketers, and talking heads, so I was curious to see if Tiedrich came from that sort of background as well.
According to his own website (which I ultimately found hidden on page 3 of Google), Tiedrich seems to be self-employed through a series of pursuits including:
- A day job as a designer/marketer at Tiedrich Design Group
- Editor and Publisher of The Smirking Chimp, a political news and commentary site that makes money through display advertising and donations. As of Oct 8, 2020, the site had raised $7,420 in the past 8 days as part of a fund drive.
- A performing musician. You can watch videos of his band rocking out on Youtube
- Jeff also has a Substack publication with over 54,000 subscribers
- Finally, Tiedrich makes nearly $255/month from Patreon sponsorships
Why does Jeff Tiedrich Tweet, and what’s his purpose when Trump is gone?
Why does Jeff Tiedrich tweet, especially now that Trump is no longer President?
This is an open-ended question with no clear answer. Though efforts to reach Tiedrich for comment were unsuccessful, his continued engagement on social media platforms hints at a broader mission.
My best guess after following him for a few years is that he’s more than a one-trick pony focused on a specific politician.
Jeff Tiedrich is likely driven by his passion for political discourse, and his unique blend of humor and insight serves to both entertain and enlighten his followers.
Conclusion
The mystery of Jeff Tiedrich may never be entirely unraveled, but what is clear is his impact on the social media landscape. His ability to combine humor, political acumen, and sincere beliefs has created a unique voice that resonates with many.
Whether a devoted follower or a curious onlooker, Jeff Tiedrich’s tweets are bound to continue attracting attention and sparking conversations.