Bill Clinton joins Twitter – thanks to Stephen Colbert

 

Bill Clinton has finally joined the world of social networking after US comedian Stephen Colbert took the liberty of opening a Twitter account on his behalf.

Speaking in an interview with Colbert that aired on his Comedy Central show on Monday night, the former US President was forced to explain why he had so far resisted using Twitter.

  

He said: "I think I'm so, sort of insecure. What if you tweet and nobody tweets back? There's nothing worse than a friendless tweeter, right?"

Colbert, unconvinced by Mr Clinton's shyness, responded: "Well sir, I took the liberty of opening you a Twitter account."

Under the twitter handle '@PrezBillyJeff' and with the description "I am President William Jefferson Billy Jeff Rodham Clinton, Stephen Colbert is my BFF", a surprised but amused Mr Clinton reluctantly agreed to dictate his first tweet to Colbert:

Billy Jeff Clinton ‏@PrezBillyJeff 6 Apr

Just spent amazing time with Colbert! Is he sane? He is cool! #cgiu

  

The account quickly attracted online attention, and has now amassed over 60,000 followers. It is currently only following one other Twitter user – Colbert himself.

The account has since posted three more tweets using the hashtag #notColbertpretendingtobeme but all have now been deleted.

All were suspected to be the work of Colbert not least because of their content. The account also still fails to have the blue check mark sign that usually denotes the authenticity.

The deleted tweets read: @PrezBillyJeff: "I'm Bill Clinton and I approve this tweet, because I wrote it, because, like I said, I'm Bill Clinton"

@PrezBillyJeff: "Now that I'm no longer president I have been downgraded to Air Force Seven" @PrezBillyJeff: "Just picked up Ayn Rand. Mind = blown, Get to work, you moochers!"

Although aired during Colbert's own show, the exchange with the 66-year-old former President took place during an annual meeting organised by the Clinton Global Initiative.

Begun by Mr Clinton's own foundation in 2005, the organisation aims to address world problems such as global public health, poverty alleviation and religious and ethnic conflict.