Just after 12pm ET on Friday, President Barack Obama and his family metaphorically handed the White House keys over to a freshly-inaugurated President Donald Trump, got in their moving van, and drove less than two miles to their new home in Washington D.C.
But not before Twitter had a final goodbye. In the hours before the Obamas relinquished the title of first family, the social media platform said #ThankYouObamas for the past eight years.
https://twitter.com/chrisrockyoz/status/822441408984293376
https://twitter.com/KaivanShroff/status/822447356050337794
From how the soon-to-be-former president treated the American people..
Thank you Sir. #BarackObama#ThankYouObamas pic.twitter.com/twRjW4x1UL
— Prossy Kakooza (She/Her) (@Pkakooza) January 20, 2017
https://twitter.com/Swiftie_Number1/status/822454508005560320
#thankyouobamas for 8 years of service to our country 🇺🇸
— KGVote (@KGvote) January 20, 2017
We were so lucky to have you representing us – the best of us. pic.twitter.com/SZQ022lZVL
#ThankYouObamas for 8 years of feeling safe. I will truly miss my @potus. #Inaugurationday#blackfriday #NationalDayOfMourning
— 🌊Beatrix KiddoⓋ🍀 (@luckydust11) January 20, 2017
#ThankYouObamas for promoting equality, acceptance, love & showing the world that love wins always. Goodbye, Mr. President. #InaugurationDay pic.twitter.com/FWHdtk7lYx
— Ebad (@simplyebad) January 20, 2017
You inspired a nation. And I got health insurance previously denied due to preexisting condition. I'm alive #ThankYouObamas
— Sully (@LuvPlaying) January 20, 2017
To the more … particular nuances of the transfer of power to the president-elect…
Remember Obama won the Presidency twice. He twice won the popular vote and didn't need Russian help. #ThankYouObamas
— Good_Beard (@NP_McGivern) January 20, 2017
Obama's #InaugurationDay in 2009 (first two photos) vs. Trump's in 2017. TRAGIC. #ThankYouObamas pic.twitter.com/hQR73wWJ8y
— Black Marvel Girl (@blaquegossip) January 20, 2017
https://twitter.com/cristeashley/status/822461451960983553
Many of Obama’s supporters tweeted their thanks to Barack and his family.
https://twitter.com/BethRader/status/822426692975284224
#ThankYouObamas … I will miss you pic.twitter.com/DzJw9LLirT
— Edward Otto Zielke (@itsedwardoz) January 20, 2017
https://twitter.com/hennessyfirst/status/822459057269309441
Thank you Sasha & Malia for all the sacrifices you made so your dad could lead our country #ThankYouObamas #ObamaDay
— Cara Jackson @carajackson.bsky.social (@cara__jackson) January 20, 2017
Yes, there were quite a few teary tweets in the crowd.
I'm not sure how many more of these I can watch. #ThankYouObamas https://t.co/nJop0ICF2Z
— UnBelizable (@un_belizable) January 8, 2017
Just choked up unfollowing the POTUS account. It's been a delight to follow it for 8 years of eloquent, hopeful updates. #ThankYouObamas
— chai (@chai_53) January 20, 2017
Screenshot while y'all can 😭😭😭 #ThankYouObamas pic.twitter.com/xmpn9pul4N
— Jay 🎙⏱ (@LilJ_3375) January 20, 2017
The final internet-wide thanks of the 44th president is a long time coming for the phrase, “thanks, Obama,” a sarcastic expression used by the president’s critics to blame him for personal and political inconveniences enacted by laws or policies supported by his administration.
For years, comics, YouTubers, and Twitter fanatics made fun of conservative critics by blaming everything from traffic to the weather on Obama. But in celebrating the president’s final two hours in office, the snide phrase got a more positive appropriation.
But a few of these critics managed to wriggle their way into the hashtag frenzy.
#ThankYouObamas for being the weakest Presidential family in history. The Trumps are everything you wish you could be. You won't be missed! pic.twitter.com/6mPt2aq0Ao
— John doe (@juhhhjgghk) January 20, 2017
President Barack Obama leaves the Oval Office for the final time. https://t.co/l6yShAV28t
— Kyle Griffin (@kylegriffin1) January 20, 2017
But not before he gave one last “thank you,” too.
As Obama leaves the Oval Office, a reporter shouts, 'Any final words for the American people?' Obama: 'Thank you.'
— Susan Page (@SusanPage) January 20, 2017