genetics - Can genes that activate transcription factors also called be called transcription factors?

You need to re-write your question, it is ambiguous and your use of terms is incorrect... Assumption: by "activation" you mean "activation of transcription resulting in the expression of the transcription factor"

1) Transcription factors are proteins

2) Genes are comprised of DNA elements

A transcription factor can be involved in initiating the EXPRESSION of a transcription factor, whereafter that second distinct transcription factor initiates the EXPRESSION of another gene that encodes another transcription factor.

Answer: No, genes do not "activate" transcription factors*

*Unless you are proposing the philosophical question of whether the DNA binding domain itself, which endows the transcription factor with a state of being active duty (i.e. fulfilling its purpose as a transcription factor), and thus that purpose is fulfilled only when the DNA binds the the TF, then a DNA binding domain can indeed "activate" the TF... but I'm pretty sure this isn't what you're asking.