Vice President JD Vance declared on social media that President Donald Trump has “done more to save Black lives than any leader in American history,” making the controversial statement while tagging New York Times columnist Jamelle Bouie on X. The post, published on June 29, 2025, sparked immediate backlash from users on Bluesky, where Vance has been actively engaging with a predominantly left-leaning user base.
Vance wrote his message in response to one of his own Bluesky posts that mentioned Trump’s role in brokering a peace deal between the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Rwanda. The 40-year-old Vice President suggested that leaders and supporters of the Black Lives Matter movement should join him in celebrating Trump’s achievements. Vance indicated that members of the Black Lives Matter movement should be thanking the President.
The Vice President has been spending significant time on Bluesky, where he maintains only 14,000 followers compared to his 4.4 million followers on X. He has posted to the platform nine times in the past week, with many observers speculating that his primary purpose is to provoke Democratic users. His activity on the platform has included tongue-in-cheek messages, including congratulations to Zohran Mamdani, who won the Democratic primary for New York City’s mayoral race.
Vance characterized the treaty between the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Rwanda as “truly historic,” a sentiment that has received bipartisan support from politicians. However, experts remain divided on whether Trump was the primary driving force behind the peace agreement, and some worry that the years-long conflict may continue despite the diplomatic breakthrough.
If the peace agreement holds, experts estimate it could spare tens of thousands of African lives and enable millions of displaced people to return to their homes. The potential impact of the deal extends beyond immediate casualties, as it could address one of the region’s most persistent humanitarian crises.
Users on Bluesky responded negatively to Vance’s claims about Trump’s legacy regarding Black lives. One user characterized the statement as an outright lie, while another pointed out that Department of Government Efficiency-induced chaos in the early days of the current administration has led to deaths in the developing world through cuts to foreign aid programs.
The Vice President’s social media activity represents part of a broader pattern of controversial statements he has made throughout his political career. Previously, Vance has faced scrutiny for various claims, including statements about immigration numbers and foreign policy matters that have been disputed by fact-checkers and policy experts.
Vance’s engagement on Bluesky comes at a time when political figures are increasingly using alternative social media platforms to reach different audiences and test messaging strategies. His decision to make such a significant claim about Trump’s impact on Black lives specifically on Bluesky, rather than on his much larger X platform, suggests a strategic approach to his communications.
The peace deal between the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Rwanda represents a significant diplomatic achievement, regardless of debates over Trump’s specific role in facilitating the agreement. The conflict has been one of the deadliest in modern history, with millions of people affected by violence and displacement over several decades.
The Vice President’s comments highlight ongoing tensions between the current administration and critics who question the scope and effectiveness of Trump’s foreign policy initiatives. While supporters argue that Trump’s diplomatic approach has achieved concrete results in conflict resolution, opponents maintain that his administration’s policies have had negative consequences for vulnerable populations worldwide.
Vance’s social media strategy appears designed to generate discussion and controversy, particularly among Democratic users who comprise the majority of Bluesky’s user base. His posts often include provocative statements that draw sharp responses from other users, creating viral moments that extend beyond the platform itself.
The statement about Trump saving Black lives represents one of the most sweeping claims Vance has made about the President’s legacy. By framing it in the context of the Congo-Rwanda peace deal, Vance attempted to provide specific justification for his broader assertion about Trump’s impact on African American communities and African lives more generally.
