JD Vance Becomes Most Blocked Person on BlueSky Days After Joining App
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Vice President JD Vance became the most blocked user on Bluesky days after joining the social media platform.
According to ClearSky, a data tracker that monitors user activity, Vance has been blocked by over 111,000 users—the highest total since the app launched last February. Vance's rapid block tally eclipsed the previous record held by journalist Jesse Singal, who had 81,270 blocks as of Friday.
Newsweek contacted representatives for Vance to comment on this story.
Why It Matters
Bluesky, launched by former Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey in 2021 and made public in 2024, has become a popular alternative to Elon Musk's X, formerly Twitter, which reflects deepening divides in American online communities. Once X adopted less stringent content moderation after Musk acquired the platform, many left-leaning and LGBTQ+ users joined Bluesky, believing it to be more inclusive environment and progressive moderation policies.
Vice President JD Vance speaks at the American Compass's The New World Gala in Washington, Tuesday, June 3, 2025.
Vice President JD Vance speaks at the American Compass's The New World Gala in Washington, Tuesday, June 3, 2025.
AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein
Following Donald Trump's 2024 electoral victory and additional shifts on X, Bluesky's user base climbed from 10 million to 30 million between November 2024 and May 2025, the New York Post reported.
What To Know
JD Vance joined Bluesky on June 18, 2025. In his first post, he wrote: "I've been told this app has become the place to go for common sense political discussion and analysis. So I'm thrilled to be here to engage with all of you,"
He then referenced the recent Supreme Court decision upholding Tennessee's ban on gender-affirming care for minors, writing: "I found Justice Clarence Thomas's concurrence on medical care for transgender youth quite illuminating," and suggesting that "many...scientists are receiving substantial resources from big pharma to push these medicines on kids."
Vance's account was suspended within 12 minutes due to Bluesky's automated impersonation-detection system, but it was reinstated and verified soon after.
What People Are Saying
Jennifer Stromer-Galley, professor in the school of information studies at Syracuse University told Newsweek: Vance "could improve his standing on social media by stopping his trolling of science, expertise, and transgender youth. BlueSky is the social media platform where left-leaning people have congregated as they fled X. Vance created his account and in his first post attacks science and support for gender-affirming care. So, no surprise he was blocked widely on BlueSky."
Scott Talan, senior professorial lecturer public communication at American University in Washington D.C told Newsweek: "It is not surprising at all as Bluesky is predominantly populated by left leaning users and the Vice President has made numerous comments that many on the Left would find to be oppositional at the minimum.
"Social media in its earlier life was promised to be a place for 'conversation' and connection. Today's politics is more polarized and hyper partisan. So, on social media political points are made versus any sort of substantive discussion. Blocking JD Vance fits this perfectly. This said, some may argue he went on Bluesky to troll users there. He's joining the party on that site rather late in the game and he couldn't expect to warmly welcomed there."
George Takei, actor and activist, posted to his 1.2 million followers: "Treat JD Vance on Bluesky like we did Donald's birthday parade. Ignore it, don't show up to watch it, and he will soon become sad and dejected" (The Daily Beast, June 19, 2025).
Jesse Singal, journalist, joked about losing his status as most-blocked user: "This isn't happening. You work hard your whole life to achieve something great and then some idiot can just come along and snatch it."
What Happens Next
With Vance's account now the most blocked in Bluesky's history, he will struggle to reach a wide userbase Whether Vance will continue using Bluesky—or shift his focus back to X or other social media platforms.
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