On October 17, 2025, the White House made a headline-grabbing entrance onto Bluesky, the social media platform that’s become a haven for many left-leaning users disenchanted with the direction of Twitter (now called X) since Elon Musk’s takeover in 2022. The move wasn’t just a quiet sign-up; it was a bold, meme-filled splash that immediately set tongues wagging across the digital political landscape.
In its very first post, the White House account—verified and using the familiar profile picture from its X account—shared a 52-second video montage. The reel was packed with memes, trolling highlights, and key moments from President Donald Trump’s nine months back in office. According to the Associated Press, the post appeared to target and provoke liberals who aren’t fans of the Republican president, a move that didn’t go unnoticed by the platform’s core user base.
“What’s up, Bluesky? We thought you might’ve missed some of our greatest hits, so we put this together for you. Can’t wait to spend more quality time together!” the White House wrote alongside the video, as reported by multiple outlets. The montage included a reference to the administration’s executive order renaming the Gulf of Mexico, a doctored image of Democratic House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries adorned in a sombrero and fake mustache, and a rapid-fire stream of photos and videos from other defining moments in Trump’s second term. The video also featured clips from Trump’s rally speeches, dramatic visuals of the border wall, and viral memes such as the “Daddy’s Home” catchphrase and a sun-faced version of Trump. Throughout the montage, a narrator underscored themes of national unity and America’s comeback—a clear attempt to shape the narrative for both supporters and critics alike.
As of October 18, the account had already attracted over 3,500 followers, followed 10 other accounts, and posted three times. Its bio simply read: “America First.” According to reporting by Arab News and others, the post quickly gained traction, racking up over 1,500 likes, 331 quotes, 76 saves, and more than 800 reposts. It’s safe to say the White House’s arrival was anything but subtle.
The debut was part of a broader government push onto Bluesky. The Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of Homeland Security both launched their own Bluesky accounts on the same day. The Department of War and the Department of State followed suit shortly after, each making their presence known with posts that echoed the administration’s combative tone. For example, the Department of Homeland Security’s first post read, “Hello, Patriots! DHS is here to appeal to your patriotic spirit and ask that you lend us a hand in stopping the Democrats’ government shutdown. To all the Americans on Bluesky, your homeland needs all of us to work together.” Meanwhile, the Department of War declared in all caps, “The most powerful military in the world is now on Bluesky,” and directly addressed Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, urging him to thank President Trump and Secretary of War Pete Hegseth for ensuring military children’s health care during the so-called “Democrat shutdown.” The Department of State, for its part, used its debut to criticize the impact of the shutdown on America’s global standing.
Vice President JD Vance, who had joined Bluesky back in June, was among the first high-profile administration figures to establish a presence on the platform. Despite this flurry of government activity, President Trump himself has continued to favor Truth Social, the social media outlet he helped launch and in which he remains the largest shareholder. According to the AP, Truth Social is still Trump’s primary platform for direct communication with supporters.
The White House didn’t just limit its Bluesky debut to the new platform. It also notified its 2.8 million followers on X, sharing the same 52-second video montage. “We realized everyone over at Bluesky probably wasn’t seeing our content. So we decided to fix that. Here are some of our greatest hits all in one place. Enjoy,” the message read. The cross-platform announcement paid off: within hours, the video had amassed over 3.2 million views, more than 60,000 likes, and 2,500 comments, according to Arab News. The viral momentum underscored just how much attention the White House’s social media strategy can command, even on platforms where the audience might not be naturally sympathetic.
The choice to join Bluesky carries symbolic weight. Bluesky, founded as an alternative to the increasingly chaotic X, has become the social media home for many users disillusioned with Musk’s approach to content moderation and platform governance. The platform saw a surge in new users late last year, particularly among those seeking a different online atmosphere and more robust moderation policies. While Bluesky remains smaller than X, it’s carved out a niche as a “safe space” for progressive voices and critics of the Trump administration. The White House’s move onto Bluesky, then, was seen by many as a deliberate incursion into what had been a relatively comfortable corner of the internet for the left.
The administration’s tone on Bluesky—playful, cheeky, and at times openly provocative—reflects a broader trend in American political communication, where the boundaries between official messaging and internet trolling have grown increasingly blurry. The use of memes, doctored images, and snarky commentary is no longer confined to campaign staff or partisan influencers; it’s now part of the White House’s official playbook. As BBC and others have noted, this approach is designed not only to energize supporters but also to bait critics into engagement, further amplifying the administration’s message across platforms.
Reactions to the White House’s Bluesky debut have been predictably polarized. Supporters praised the administration’s willingness to “take the fight” to adversarial territory, while critics accused the White House of undermining the seriousness of its office. Some Bluesky users expressed frustration at what they saw as an invasion of their preferred online space, while others saw the move as an inevitable extension of the political battles that have long raged on social media. The administration’s decision to highlight controversial moments—such as the executive order renaming the Gulf of Mexico and the doctored image of Jeffries—was seen by some as a calculated effort to provoke outrage and drive engagement.
Meanwhile, the broader migration of government agencies to Bluesky signals a recognition that social media remains a vital battleground for public opinion, even as platforms fragment and audiences scatter. The presence of the Department of Health and Human Services, Department of Homeland Security, Department of War, and Department of State on Bluesky underscores the administration’s commitment to reaching Americans wherever they gather online—friendly turf or not.
As the dust settles from the White House’s meme-laden debut, one thing is clear: the battle for hearts and minds in the digital age is as fierce—and as irreverent—as ever. The administration’s willingness to embrace the language and tactics of internet culture, even in adversarial spaces, marks a new chapter in the ongoing saga of American politics online.
