President Trump Didn't Make It on the List of 2017's Most Retweeted Tweets. But Obama Did
This year was a rollercoaster socially, politically — and on social media.
With news moving at a rapid clip, people turned to platforms like Twitter to keep up with current events, share funny stories and memes and take part in important conversations. Twitter, it turned out, was also an important gathering ground for messages of hope and service. Here are the ten tweets that garnered the most retweets over the course of the year, including three poignant messages from Barack Obama, one man’s ultimate quest for unlimited chicken nuggets, calls to assist in hurricane recovery relief, and a suicide hotline PSA. None of Trump’s tweets made the cut, but a Trump clapback from basketball star LeBron James did, and powerful responses from artists Ariana Grande and Linkin Park after experiencing tragedies.
Together, the tweets tell the story of a global online audience willing to rally together in the face of difficulties — and willing to support a stranger in search of sustenance, topping off with 3.6 million retweets.
10.
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?— seth joesph (@sethjoesph) August 28, 2017
9.
Leo and I are donating 6 lbs of dog food to Houston for every retweet this gets!!!! RT RT RT RT!! pic.twitter.com/bcTT905knP
— Sam (@SamMartin_6) August 31, 2017
8.
It's been the honor of my life to serve you. You made me a better leader and a better man.
— President Obama (@POTUS44) January 20, 2017
7.
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!
— LeBron James (@KingJames) September 23, 2017
6.
— LINKIN PARK (@linkinpark) July 20, 2017
5.
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.
— President Obama (@POTUS44) January 11, 2017
4.
broken.
from the bottom of my heart, i am so so sorry. i don't have words.— Ariana Grande (@ArianaGrande) May 23, 2017
3.
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! pic.twitter.com/lodyOBE0eG
— Penn State IFC (@PennStateIFC) August 30, 2017
2.
"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
1.
HELP ME PLEASE. A MAN NEEDS HIS NUGGS pic.twitter.com/4SrfHmEMo3
— Carter Wilkerson (@carterjwm) April 6, 2017