Ahead of India visit, Trump says he is No 1 on Facebook, PM Modi No 2; facts prove him wrong

New Delhi: US President Donald Trump, set to visit India on Feb 24, on Saturday said that Facebook has ranked him as the Number 1 leader, apparently owing to his follower and likes count. He felt ‘honoured’ at the achievement but the statistics apparently prove him wrong. The comparison of facts will leave red-faced rather than feeling ‘honoured’.

Trump claimed Facebook’s chief executive, Mark Zuckerberg, said he was “Number 1” on the social network — apparently referring to his follower count — and that Prime Minister Narendra Modi was second.

Great honor, I think? Mark Zuckerberg recently stated that “Donald J. Trump is Number 1 on Facebook. Number 2 is Prime Minister Modi of India.” Actually, I am going to India in two weeks. Looking forward to it!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 14, 2020

The fact-checking revealed that the US President got it wrong, while comparing the number of followers as well as ‘Likes’ between the two world leaders.

Dissecting Trump’s ‘No 1’ claim on FB

PM Modi has more than 44 million followers on the platform, while Trump, on the other hand, comes at a distant second, with close to 27.5 million followers.

The gap between the number of likes is even bigger, with PM Modi having 44.5 million likes, while Trump 26 million- a little more than half of Modi’s.

Trump would rank third — and PM Modi second — if Trump’s predecessor Barack Obama is also considered. The former US president has more than 53.5 million followers, and 55 million likes.

Mr. President @realDonaldTrump you are most welcome to India but please keep the @Facebook data right. Over 44 million like Prime Minister @narendramodi on facebook. Rest have Fun with Facts! pic.twitter.com/HCvToQLP28

— Pranay Upadhyaya (@JournoPranay) February 15, 2020

Trump’s India visit on Feb 24-Feb 25

Accompanied by First Lady Melania Trump, the US President will be on a two-day visit to India from February 24.

According to the Ministry of External Affairs, Trump is expected to attend an event at the Motera Stadium in Ahmedabad on the lines of the ‘Howdy Modi’ function that was addressed by the US President and Modi in Houston in September last year.