Barack Obama Tweet Sets Record With Over 2.8 Million 'Likes'

A tweet from former US President Barack Obama has just made Twitter history. With over 2.8 million 'likes,' Mr Obama's tweet is the most 'liked' tweet on the microblogging platform. The tweet is the first in a series of three quoting the late South African leader Nelson Mandela. Mr Obama's tweets from August 13 were in response to a white supremacist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia that turned violent and resulted in the death of a protester.

"No one is born hating another person because of the color of his skin or his background or his religion," Mr Obama tweeted, along with a photograph. The quote comes from Mr Mandela's autobiography "Long Walk to Freedom."

Taken by the then-White House photographer, Pete Souza, the photo accompanying the poignant quote shows Mr Obama visiting a day care centre in the US in 2011. It's a candid moment where he's smiling and reaching up to four young children of different racial backgrounds.

Mr Obama's tweet has been 'liked' close to three million times already and has been retweeted over 1.2 million times.
 

"No one is born hating another person because of the color of his skin or his background or his religion..." pic.twitter.com/InZ58zkoAm

— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) August 13, 2017

 

"People must learn to hate, and if they can learn to hate, they can be taught to love..."

— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) August 13, 2017

 

"...For love comes more naturally to the human heart than its opposite." - Nelson Mandela

— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) August 13, 2017

One look at the comments thread below Mr Obama's tweet and its clear his message of tolerance has struck a chord with many.
 

thanks for sharing this #TRUTH and the amazing photo .....

— Budgies & Pat (@jordijaywebde) August 13, 2017

 

Unite on this simple truth. All colors of humanity are one humanity. Children know this truth till adults & the system corrupts their minds.

— Yo-G (@TheRealYoG) August 13, 2017

 

That tweet is hope to me. There might be inequalities, injustices and ideologies bringing hate. We are all born the same way: innocent

— Aymeric Beaumet (@aymericbeaumet) August 13, 2017

 

No one is born hating people.. it is taught and practiced everyday.. grandparents, aunts and uncles, mom and dad.. even whole communities.

— Bella Rista (@jewelsfurs58) August 13, 2017

 

A beautiful quote from a great person! Thank you for posting it!

— John Wukovits (@NavyinWWII) August 16, 2017

 

Thank you for helping me to see some humanity in the midst of all of the inhumane rhetoric.

— Anita B. James (@anitabjames) August 16, 2017

Singer Ariana Grande's tweet following a deadly bombing at her concert in Manchester earlier this year previously held the top spot with 2.7 million 'likes.'