US President breaks Twitter world record

folarin okunola

May 21, 2015 9:59 AM

Obama accomplished the feat when he signed up for his own Twitter account (@POTUS) two days ago and hit 1 million followers in under 5 hours

US President Barack Obama.

US President Barack Obama, on Monday, broke the world record for the highest number of followers garnered in the shortest time, according to Guinness World Records.

Obama accomplished the feat when he signed up for his own Twitter account (@POTUS) two days ago and hit 1 million followers in under 5 hours – a milestone that easily trumps former record holder Robert Downey Jr.’s 24hr time frame.

This isn’t the first time the US President has used Twitter though. In the past he’s always done so through the White House’s handle (@WhiteHouse).

However, the White House account, as well as the @BarackObama accounts are both managed by staffers. Tweets from the @POTUS account, meanwhile, will come exclusively from the president himself, promises the White House.

Obama has taken to Twitter another three times since his introductory "Hello, Twitter!" tweet, including two photos snapped of his visit to Camden, New Jersey and his commencement speech for the Coast Guard class of 2015.

Obama also jokingly replied to Bill Clinton’s humorus tweet on Monday welcoming him to the service.

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