Barack Obama Joins Bluesky as Platform Gains Momentum

Bluesky, the decentralized social media platform aiming to rival X (formerly Twitter), just added a major name to its user base – former U.S. President Barack Obama.

On Sunday, Bluesky confirmed that Obama had officially joined the network. The confirmation came when Bluesky’s COO, Rose Wang, responded to speculation about the authenticity of Obama’s account with a simple “Confirmed!”

Obama’s first posts on the platform marked the 15th anniversary of the Affordable Care Act, a signature legislative achievement during his presidency. In one post, he reflected:

“The ACA reminds us that meaningful change is possible when we stand up and fight for progress.”

Despite already having massive followings on platforms like X (over 130 million) and Facebook (55 million), Obama’s move to Bluesky signals a growing trend of prominent figures turning to alternative platforms.

Bluesky has been gaining traction, especially after the 2024 U.S. elections. Elon Musk’s political alignment with Donald Trump, and his involvement with the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) – a group focused on shrinking the federal government – have alienated many progressive users. This has fueled a wave of departures from X and a corresponding spike in Bluesky signups.

By late 2024, Bluesky had crossed 33 million users, with the number steadily climbing.

Obama isn’t the only political heavyweight on Bluesky. Figures like Bernie Sanders, Elizabeth Warren, Al Green, Gavin Newsom, and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez have all established strong presences. AOC even became the first user on Bluesky to surpass one million followers. The platform now counts many other U.S. lawmakers among its users, including senators, representatives, and governors.

With more high-profile users joining, Bluesky is proving to be more than just an alternative—it’s becoming a political and cultural hub in its own right.