The White House and nearly a dozen federal agencies joined the social media platform Bluesky over the weekend to spread their message blaming Democrats for the government shutdown.
“What’s up, Bluesky? We thought you might’ve missed some of our greatest hits, so we put this together for you,” the White House account posted alongside a 50-second promotional video. “Can’t wait to spend more quality time together!”
The White House had previously avoided the largely liberal-aligned site, which was created as an alternative to Elon Musk-owned X, but changed its tune over the weekend.
“Democrats have voted 10 times to keep the government shut down to give free healthcare to illegal aliens,” read another post on Saturday. “SHAME.”
In its inaugural Bluesky post, the State Department posted that it created the account because “heard this is a great place to have an open and honest dialogue, so we’re here to talk about how the Democrat shutdown is undermining our country on the world stage.”
“Give us a follow so we can update you on how the Democrats’ partisan shutdown is harming America’s national security,” the post continued. “We also heard this is a great place to research visa revocations.”
The Department of Defense, created under the new Trump-approved moniker the Department of War, took a different approach in its first post by tagging Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer in its shutdown post.
“THE MOST POWERFUL MILITARY IN THE WORLD IS NOW ON BLUESKY,” the post read. “Hey @schumer.senate.gov — maybe it’s time you thank PRESIDENT TRUMP and SECRETARY OF WAR PETE HEGSETH for making sure EVERY military kid still has health care during your Democrat Shutdown.”
The Department of the Interior also tagged Schumer in its first post, telling him to “Stop the madness of trying to give illegals free health care and FUND the government!”
“Anyone want to talk about how climate change isn’t the biggest threat to our country and that it’s actually losing the AI arms race to China?” the post said.
The federal government is headed towards breaking Trump’s previous shutdown record of 35 days, which occurred during his first term in 2019, as negotiations enter their fourth week.
The Department of Health and Human Services, which has laid off more than a thousand employees since the shutdown began, posted a series of bullet points blaming Democrats for the shutdown “as a form of partisan protest.”
“MAHA held hostage,” read HHS’ post. “The Democrat shutdown has major consequences on America’s flagship health programs. Medicare’s telehealth in-home option has expired. NIH’s flagship Clinical Center can’t routinely enroll new patients in studies or start new protocols. FDA inspectors must work without pay.”
DHS’ first post Saturday included a video of Bluesky’s founder Jay Graber in a May interview with Wired saying the social platform is “for everyone” cut before a compilation video of DHS making a post that says “HEY IS THIS THING ON” along with a meme that says, “Life after all the illegals are deported” set to the song “Mr. Blue Sky.”
“Dear Democrats, it’s really simple: Close the border. Open the government,” read another DHS post.
“The Democrats’ must end their imprudent shutdown. Justice cannot be put under siege. Justice cannot be starved out. We will continue to protect the homeland,” read a different DHS post. “It is our duty, our honor, and our privilege.”
The Department of Energy, which was among the first to cut grants targeted at Democratic-led states, also blamed Democrats for the federal shutdown in its Bluesky post.
“A strong grid, strong energy supply, and strong leadership is what the American people deserve—it’s why President Trump was elected,” read the post. “A Congressional Democrat-led government shutdown does nothing but obstruct Americans from the energy they need and the results they voted for!”
The Bluesky accounts are not Republicans’ first attempt to appeal to voters during the federal shutdown. Earlier this month, the Department of Housing and Urban Development was the first agency to start a trend of website messages claiming the “radical left” are behind the shutdown.
The agency messages spread concern among government watchdog groups that the White House violated the Hatch Act, a 1939 federal law preventing federal employees from expressing political messages in their official capacity. Trump reportedly told his officials during his first term to disregard the law.
Additionally, Democratic Senators called for an investigation into DHS Secretary Kristi Noem’s order for airports across the country to play a video blaming Democrats for the shutdown.
“The Trump administration is working tirelessly to keep energy prices down, drive innovation forward, and maintain our nuclear stockpile,” a second DOE post said. “Congressional Democrats halting those efforts is beyond irresponsible.”