Washington: With just two years to go before his tenure comes to an end, US President Barack Obama was finally given his personal Twitter account on Monday.
President Obama in his maiden tweet from his personal Twitter handle @POTUS, remarked how after six years into presidency, he was “finally” allowed to handle his own account.
Hello, Twitter! It's Barack. Really! Six years in, they're finally giving me my own account.
— President Obama (@POTUS) May 18, 2015
Within hours, Obama drew over 1.7 million followers and the President himself was following 65 Twitter accounts, including US official departments, officials and interestingly a handful of Chicago sports clubs.
Though there was already a Twitter account with the handle @Barack Obama, it was being managed by the Organizing for Action staff, and the tweets personally written by the President were signed -BO.
In a personal tweet signed -MO, First Lady Michelle Obama also welcomed the President, tweeting, “It's about time”.
It's about time, @POTUS! –mo
— The First Lady (@FLOTUS) May 18, 2015
Former president Bill Clinton welcomed Obama on getting his personal @POTUS handle, but also did not miss out on poking fun, asking if the “username would stay with the office”?
To which Obama replied interestingly, saying “the handle comes with the (White) House.
Welcome to @Twitter, @POTUS! One question: Does that username stay with the office? #askingforafriend
— Bill Clinton (@billclinton) May 18, 2015
Good question, @billclinton. The handle comes with the house. Know anyone interested in @FLOTUS?
— President Obama (@POTUS) May 18, 2015
According to the CNN that cited a White House official, Obama's @POTUS handle will be transferred to the next President when he leaves office on 2017.
