US Vice President JD Vance has quickly found notoriety on Bluesky, becoming the most blocked user in the platform’s history just days after joining.
The 40-year-old Republican made his entrance onto the social media site — a growing alternative to X — by sharing a controversial excerpt from the US Supreme Court’s recent decision upholding Tennessee’s ban on trans healthcare. In his first post, Vance wrote:
“Hello Bluesky, 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.”
His remarks, which endorsed Justice Clarence Thomas’ view that healthcare for trans youth is based on “questionable evidence,” were widely condemned by Bluesky users. The backlash was swift and unprecedented, with users flocking to block Vance en masse.
According to third-party tracking service Clearsky, Vance now holds the dubious honour of being the most blocked account in Bluesky’s four-year history, with over 110,400 blocks to date. In the last 24 hours alone, he was blocked by more than 47,000 users — a figure over twelve times greater than the second most blocked account in that timeframe, which happens to be his official vice presidential profile.
Despite the uproar, Vance has attracted around 10,000 followers since his debut.
In response, journalist Jesse Singal, previously the most blocked user with 81,200 blocks, jokingly lamented the loss of his title on X/Twitter:
“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.”
Other highly blocked users on Bluesky include the trending bot “Now Breezing,” transmedicalist commentator Brianna Wu, and entrepreneur Mark Cuban.
Bluesky, founded by former Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey, launched publicly in 2024 after a soft rollout in 2021. It has since become a haven for LGBTQ+ communities, particularly trans individuals, seeking a safer online space away from the growing hostility seen on Elon Musk’s Twitter.
The reaction to Vance’s post reflects the progressive leanings of Bluesky’s userbase. Comments under his debut ranged from confusion to open hostility.
“Dude, wtf are you even doing here?” asked one user. Another stated, “Opportunists are not welcome here.”
A third wrote bluntly, “Yes, this place is for common sense. Please return to Truth Social and f**k off. Nobody cares about your opinion.”
On X, however, Vance received praise from right-wing commentators for “doing a little trolling,” showcasing the stark contrast in reception across platforms.
