President Barack Obama started a new and exclusive Twitter account with the handle "@POTUS" (short for President of the United States) on Monday. He's had the "@BarackObama" handle for eight years. However, that Twitter handle is being used by the president's staff, according to its latest bio on Twitter, and only tweets signed "-bo" are/were from the president himself.
Former President Bill Clinton was quick to welcome the current commander-in-chief to the social network, and the two enagaged in some cheeky banter on Twitter, much to the delight of their thousands of followers, CNN reports.
According to The Telegraph, the exchange took place after President Obama tweeted with the message "Hello, Twitter! It's Barack. Really! Six years in they're finally giving me my 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
Clinton, whose wife, Hillary Clinton, is running for president, was quick to respond to the president's arrival on Twitter. The former president asked if the Twitter handle would stay when Mr. Obama leaves office, using the hashtag #askingforafriend, a not-so-subtle indication of her bid for the White House.
Welcome to @Twitter, @POTUS! One question: Does that username stay with the office? #askingforafriend
— Bill Clinton (@billclinton) May 18, 2015
"The handle comes with the house," President Obama wrote, and then added his wife and first lady Michelle Obama into the conversation. "Know anyone interested in @FLOTUS?" according to The International Business Times
Good question, @billclinton. The handle comes with the house. Know anyone interested in @FLOTUS?
— President Obama (@POTUS) May 18, 2015
Bill Clinton has not yet responded to the tweet. Obama has a very brief but detailed Twitter bio: "Dad, husband, and 44th President of the United States. Tweets may be archived: https://wh.gov/privacy." The President also tweeted about the Camden Police Department and shared a picture of his meeting with New Jersey officers about building trust in the community.
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