Call for Barack Obama to Give ‘National Commencement Address’ for Seniors Goes Viral

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One student sparked a viral movement with a novel idea that actually got the attention of former President Barack Obama. “In an unprecedented time, it would give us great comfort to hear your voice,” he wrote on Twitter. “We ask you to consider giving a national commencement speech to the class of 2020.”

The student, who is a senior himself and goes by the Twitter handle Lincoln, also helped spread the hashtag #ObamaCommencement2020, which quickly went viral on Tuesday night and continued trending Top 5 throughout the day on Wednesday.

When someone suggested it would be a great move because it would upset President Trump, Lincoln was quick to shut down the partisan angle. “It isn’t about that,” he replied. “It’s about someone who speaks for my generation. Like Barack Obama was the first President I can remember. The classroom mock elections, watching his inauguration in school. That’s what this is about. Hearing that voice of hope again.”

Lincoln’s original tweet was retweeted more than 30,000 times and liked more than 150,000 times. As the message spread, many began asking that his wife Michelle Obama join him in giving the speech to all the seniors who will be missing out on a traditional graduation, and commencement speech, due to ongoing stay-at-home restrictions amid the novel coronavirus pandemic.

By Wednesday evening, his message had even gotten the attention of Obama himself, or at least his people. A source for his camp tells People that the Obamas are flattered by the suggestion, but don’t have a response yet.

Notably, that is not a no.

Both of the Obamas have given plenty of speeches, and even plenty of commencement speeches in their time. It is true that this is an unprecedented situation that is robbing an entire class of the graduation rite of passage, not to mention almost the final months of their school year.

And Lincoln is right that for most of these students, Obama has been the president they grew up with. He swept into office when they were in grade school on a message of hope. And isn’t that was a commencement speech during these times should be about?

You can check out some of the growing enthusiasm for Lincoln’s idea in the tweets below:

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