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Obama ruled Twitter, but was given a run for his money

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Barack Obama. Picture: Craid Lassig/EPA
Barack Obama. Picture: Craid Lassig/EPA

He is no longer US president, but Barack Obama owned Twitter this year. Together with chicken nuggets, the former head of state was the star of the social media site this year.

Here are the top 10 tweets of 2017:

1. Carter needs his nuggs

@carterjwm – Help me please. A man needs his nuggs

In April, Nevada high school student Carter Wilkerson tweeted the Wendy’s account asking how many RTs he’d need to get a year’s supply of free chicken nuggets. They said 18 million. So far he’s gotten 3.6 million, but they gave him the nuggets anyway. Actual number is: 38 565 Replies 3 642 710 retweets and 985 490 Likes

2. Obama’s response to Charlottesville

@BarackObama – “No one is born hating another person because of the color of his skin or his background or his religion...”

Obama’s tweet quoting Nelson Mandela after the white supremacist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, that left counter-protester Heather Heyer dead was retweeted more than 1.7 million times. Actual number is: 71 009 replies; 1 718 327 retweets and 4 603 518 likes

3. Penn State’s Houston hurricane relief

– With the current devastation in Houston, we are pledging $0.15 for every RT this gets! Please forward this along to help out those in need!

The Pennsylvania State University Interfraternity Council pledged 15 cents for every RT for hurricane relief in Houston. They capped their donations at $10,000 as it has received more than 1.1 million retweets. Actual number is: 2 653 replies; 1 166 167 retweets and 225 740 likes

4. Ariana Grande’s tweet following the Manchester attack

@ArianaGrande – Broken. From the bottom of my heart, I am so so sorry. I don’t have words.

Ariana Grande tweeted that she was “broken” the night that 22 were killed in an attack at her concert in Manchester, England. Her tweet received 1.1 million RTs. Actual number is: 133 593 replies; 1 121 972 retweets; 2 678 708 likes

5. Obama’s thank you

@POTUS44 – Thank you for everything. My last ask is the same as my first. I’m asking you to believe – not in my ability to create change, but in yours.

Obama’s second tweet on the list is from January, thanking supporters following his farewell address. It has received more than 869 000 RTs and was sent from the official @POTUS account, which is now archived under the @POTUS44 handle after Trump took office and was given the account. Actual numbers: 24 408 replies; 872 034 retweets; 1 856 130 likes

6. Linkin Park’s tribute to Chester Bennington

Linkin Park lead singer Chester Bennington committed suicide in July, and the band posted a photo that day of him performing in concert that received more than 787 000 RTs. Actual number is: 18 084 replies; 786 772 retweets and 1 466 846 likes

7. LeBron James calls Trump “u bum”

@KingJames – U bum @StephenCurry30 already said he ain’t going! So therefore ain’t no invite. Going to White House was a great honor until you showed up!

The Cleveland Cavaliers star subtweeted Trump in September after Trump rescinded Steph Curry’s invitation to the White House. The only problem was Curry had already said he wouldn’t visit the White House as part of the Golden State Warriors’ traditional visit to honor their NBA championship win. James called Trump a “bum.” His received more than 660 000 RTs. Actual number is: 49 766; replies 660 818 and retweets 1 504 783 likes

8. Obama’s goodbye

@POTUS44 – It’s been the honor of my life to serve you. You made me a better leader and a better man.

It received more than 630 000 retweets. After posting this tweet, he tweeted just three more times before leaving office. Actual number is: 19 214 replies; 630 759 retweets; 1 641 089 likes

9. Detroit Lions’ Sam Martin pledges donated dog food for Houston

@SamMartin_6 – Leo and I are donating 6 lbs of dog food to Houston for every retweet this gets!!!! RT RT RT RT!!

Another tweet asking for RTs to help with hurricane relief in Houston, the Lions’ Sam Houston donated $10,000 and promoted a drive to collect toiletries and other essentials from Michigan to Texas. His tweet was retweeted more than 623 000 times. Actual number is: 6 893 replies; 622 890 retweets and 213 984 likes

10. The suicide hotline

@sethjoesph – suicide hotline 1-800-273-8255 1 person ends their life every 40 seconds will u take the time to retweet this & possibly save one of them?

This year the phone number for the suicide hotline was turned into a hit song by Logic, Alessia Cara and Khalid, and it was also featured in the 10th most retweeted tweet of the year, from user @sethjoseph, whose tweet was retweeted more than 604 000 times. Actual number is: 2 408 replies, 603 836, retweets 122 214 likes.

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