Obama gets his own Twitter account

"Hello, Twitter! It's Barack. Really! Six years in, they're finally giving me my own account."

With that inaugural Tweet sent from a smart phone in the Oval Office before jumping on Marine One Monday, the President of the United States Barack Obama -- or @POTUS -- cast off security and bureaucratic chains in place since he was elected.

The account -- which already had nearly 150,000 followers in the first half hour and a million followers shortly after -- instantly became one of the world's top hacking targets, but will also allow Obama to tweet directly for the first time.

Until now Obama has tweeted through his executive staff @WhiteHouse or the remnants of his campaign staff @BarackObama.
Obama describes himself as "Dad, husband, and 44th President of the United States."

Obama's arrival on Twitter was greeted former president Bill Clinton, husband of 2016 presidential hopeful Hillary Clinton.

"Welcome to @Twitter, @POTUS! One question: Does that username stay with the office? #askingforafriend," he tweeted.

Obama responded: "Good question, @billclinton. The handle comes with the house. Know anyone interested in @FLOTUS?" -- referring to the first lady of the United States account.

If Hillary were elected, Bill Clinton would become the first American "First Gentleman."