Barack Obama's Twitter account attracts 1.46 million followers
Washington, May 19: In less than 12 hours after he officially entered 'Twittersphere', US President Barack Obama's account has attracted 1.46 million followers.
The President of the United States Barack Obama -- or @POTUS -- account will allow Obama to communicate directly for the first time. He follows 65 people, surprisingly none of them are foreign leaders.
"Hello, Twitter! It's Barack. Really! Six years in, they're finally giving me my own account," was Obama's first message on the micro blogging site yesterday
Hello,
Twitter!
It's
Barack.
Really!
Six
years
in,
they're
finally
giving
me
my
own
account.
—
President
Obama
(@POTUS)
May
18,
2015
Four hours later he made his second tweet about his visit to New Jersey. "In Camden today, seeing first-hand how smart policing is making the community safer while building trust," he tweeted
In
Camden
today,
seeing
first-hand
how
smart
policing
is
making
the
community
safer
while
building
trust.
pic.twitter.com/3MiWk43c8g
—
President
Obama
(@POTUS)
May
18,
2015
His third tweet, which was in response to a tweet by former US President Bill Clinton attracted quite a bit of attention. "Welcome to @Twitter, @POTUS! One question: Does that username stay with the office? #askingforafriend," the former US President asked.
Welcome
to
@Twitter,
@POTUS!
One
question:
Does
that
username
stay
with
the
office?
#askingforafriend
—
Bill
Clinton
(@billclinton)
May
18,
2015
Obama responded soon, saying, "Good question, @billclinton. The handle comes with the house. Know anyone interested in @FLOTUS?"
Good
question,
@billclinton.
The
handle
comes
with
the
house.
Know
anyone
interested
in
@FLOTUS?
—
President
Obama
(@POTUS)
May
18,
2015
So far Obama follows 65 accounts on twitter, which mostly involves members of his Cabinet, key White House officials, important departments and some of the popular sports teams from Chicago –- his home town.
The @POTUS Twitter account will serve as a new way for President Obama to engage directly with the American people, with tweets coming exclusively from him, the White House said.
"Obama is committed to making his Administration the most open and participatory in history and @POTUS will give Americans a new venue to engage on the issues that matter most to them," it said.
PTI