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We all thought it had truly died a death when Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond chucked this monstrosity into the Twittersphere .
But it appears the political selfie is alive and well across the pond, where US Vice President Joe Biden has launched his very own Instagram account with a super close-up shot of him and President Obama in the back of a limousine.
“Found a friend to join my first selfie on Instagram. Thanks for following and stay tuned. -VP,” he captioned the image, notably eschewing comedic hashtags.
According to the White House, Biden’s latest foray into the social media world is part of an effort to “give followers a unique look inside the Vice Presidency” and “connect with citizens online”.
He has, of course, been an active tweeter for some time.
Highly Improbable, But Definitely Real, Famous FriendshipsShow all 12 1 /12Highly Improbable, But Definitely Real, Famous Friendships Highly Improbable, But Definitely Real, Famous Friendships Barack Obama loves to let his hair down occasionally with a B ball game and a quick blast of hip-hop. Which is probably why he gets on famously with... AFP
Getty
Highly Improbable, But Definitely Real, Famous Friendships ... Jay-Z, who even admitted he gets texts from the president occasionally. The true mark of friendship. That and a Cuban holiday. Although Obama denied any involvement in the couple's approval to vacation in the embargoed country. Rex
Rex Features
Highly Improbable, But Definitely Real, Famous Friendships It seems unlikely that many famous faces would admit to being friends with North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un, thanks to his appalling human rights track record. But one man loves him above all others... Reuters
REUTERS/Kyodo
Highly Improbable, But Definitely Real, Famous Friendships ... Dennis Rodman. "He's my friend and I love him," the former NBA star told a group of journalists at Beijing airport. He was on his way to N.Korea for the dictator's birthday B ball game. Getty
Getty
Highly Improbable, But Definitely Real, Famous Friendships Wikileaks founder Julian Assange has many a celebrity admirer. But there is one UK-based musician who he lunches with at the Ecuadorian Embassy more than most... AP
AP
Highly Improbable, But Definitely Real, Famous Friendships ... Rapper MIA. In fact, Assange recently introduced the star via a web link to her audience during a recent gig in New York. Getty
Getty Images
Highly Improbable, But Definitely Real, Famous Friendships Elton John's a popular man, with one of the most enviable address books in the entertainment industry. But you may be surprised to know... Getty
Getty Images
Highly Improbable, But Definitely Real, Famous Friendships ... About his highly unlikely but definitely real friendship with Chris Brown. “I met Elton about a year ago, and he's been a good friend to me," he told Page Six in March 2013. Reuters
Reuters
Highly Improbable, But Definitely Real, Famous Friendships Equally surprising? Former presidential candidate Senator John McCain's random kinship with... AFP
AFP
Highly Improbable, But Definitely Real, Famous Friendships ... Snooki. Yes, as in Jersey Shore star Snooki. “How's my friend Snooki?” he asked an MTV reporter in 2012... Before he added: "Congratulations again to her on the addition to the family and I still agree with her that we should never, never tax tanning beds. That was one of the worst things about Obamacare that could possibly have happened." Tactical friendship perhaps? Getty
Getty
Highly Improbable, But Definitely Real, Famous Friendships Bette Midler is a Hollywood legend. So many were surprised to learn that she had forged an unlikely friendship with... Getty
GETTY IMAGES
Highly Improbable, But Definitely Real, Famous Friendships ... Erm, rapper 50 Cent? “He has really made my life worth living. 50 has been with me through thick and thin," she told MyParkMag. The pair met during a restoration project in Jamaica Queens. Press
Meanwhile, Obama can’t seem to steer clear of selfie-related controversies. Back in December, he was criticised for posing for an inappropriate vanity shot with David Cameron and Danish Prime Minister Helle Thorning-Schmidt during a memorial service for the late Nelson Mandela.
The White House also recently complained about a photograph of the President with Red Sox player David Ortiz, after it was used in an advert without its permission.
The White House warned that it was considering banning Obama from selfies altogether .
However, as you can see from the shot above, any such ban doesn't seem to have been enforced.
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