WASHINGTON: The White House on Friday joined Bluesky, the social media platform of choice of many in the left-leaning online world.
In its inaugural post, the White House account offered a sizzle reel of the administration’s memes, trolls and messages from President Donald Trump’s nine months since returning to office. The post appeared aimed at tweaking liberals who aren’t fans of the Republican president.
The first post included mentions of the administration’s executive order renaming the Gulf of Mexico, a doctored image of Democratic House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries adorned in a sombrero with a faux mustache, and stream of photos and video from other big moments in the early going of Trump’s second term.
“What’s up, Bluesky?” the White House said in a message accompanying the video. ”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!”
Disgruntled X users began flocking to Bluesky after billionaire Elon Musk took over Twitter (now known as X) in 2022, and the platform reported a surge in new users late last year.
It remains small compared to more established online spaces such as X, but it has emerged as an alternative for those looking for a different mood.
The Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of Homeland Security also launched Bluesky accounts Friday.
Vice President JD Vance joined Bluesky in June.
Trump’s social media platform of choice is Truth Social. Trump is the biggest shareholder in Trump Media & Technology Group, the company that owns Truth Social.
White House joins Bluesky and immediately trolls Trump opponents
https://arab.news/62e5p
White House joins Bluesky and immediately trolls Trump opponents
- Bluesky is the social media platform of choice of many in the left-leaning online world
- Disgruntled X users began flocking to Bluesky after billionaire Elon Musk took over Twitter (now known as X) in 2022
Israel designates 5 Palestinian media platforms ‘terrorist organizations’
- Defense Minister Israel Katz issues ban on Al-Asima News, M3raj Network, Al-Quds Albawsala Network, Maydan Al-Quds, Plus Quds Network, accusing them of ‘incitement’
- Jerusalem-based digital outlets provide essential minute-by-minute coverage from the Old City, Palestinian neighborhoods, Al-Aqsa Mosque compound
LONDON: Israel has designated five Palestinian media platforms “terrorist organizations” over their coverage of Israeli measures in East Jerusalem, accusing them of “incitement.”
The Ministry of Defense issued a ban on Sunday on Al-Asima News, M3raj Network, Al-Quds Albawsala Network, Maydan Al-Quds, and Plus Quds Network.
Israel’s Channel 12 reported that Defense Minister Israel Katz had signed the order and that the attorney general “confirmed that there is no legal obstacle” to the move.
Israeli authorities said the outlets incited unrest by focusing on developments in East Jerusalem and at Al-Aqsa Mosque. They alleged that Hamas used the platforms to stir tensions among Palestinians during Ramadan.
Israeli authorities ordered internet service providers and social networking companies to block access to the specified accounts.
Al-Asima, one of the banned outlets, said on Monday it was suspending operations.
The network said: “In a new step added to Israel’s record of repression and gagging, the occupation has banned the work of several Jerusalem-based news networks in an attempt to isolate Jerusalem and Al-Aqsa, monopolize them, and suppress their news from the world.
“This is not a retreat from our mission, but a measure to protect our journalists from the occupation’s brutality.”
The right-wing government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has intensified measures in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, since taking office at the end of 2022.
Since the start of the Gaza war in October 2023, Israeli authorities have imposed tighter restrictions on movement for West Bank residents at checkpoints leading into East Jerusalem.
The actions come amid a broader land-grab agenda that is expected to accelerate after the Israeli security cabinet approved measures to increase Israeli civilian authority in Areas A and B of the West Bank, which together make up about 40 percent of the territory.
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk has condemned those steps, warning they “will undoubtedly accelerate the dispossession of Palestinians and their forcible transfer,” and further deprive them of natural resources and other basic rights.
In this heavily fragmented environment — marked by checkpoints, gates and roadblocks — the Jerusalem-based digital outlets have played a key role, providing minute-by-minute coverage from the Old City, Palestinian neighborhoods and, crucially, the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound.
They have also documented daily realities often absent from mainstream media coverage, including home demolitions, land seizures, settler takeovers, arrests and repeated incursions into holy sites.
It remains unclear whether Israel’s move against the media platforms will be temporary or permanent.
However, concerns are growing that the action forms part of a wider effort to isolate the West Bank not only physically, but also by constraining Palestinian narratives, a trend likely to come under increased international scrutiny.
