Only a few graduating classes have had the chance to get a graduation speech from Obama, such as at Wesleyan University in 2008, where he filled in for then-Sen. Ted Kennedy. AP Photo/Jessica Hill

With graduation ceremonies on hold nationwide, a growing chorus online is calling for former President Barack Obama to give a nationwide commencement speech for the class of 2020.

It all started with a tweet a senior at Eagle Rock High School in Los Angeles.

"In an unprecedented time, it would give us great comfort to hear your voice. We ask you to consider giving a national commencement speech to the class of 2020."

In less than five hours, the senior's tweet racked up more than 40 thousand retweets and nearly 200 thousand likes, and was promoted by celebrities such as Julia Louis-Dreyfus.

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Thousands of people are joining a call for former President Barack Obama to deliver a nationwide commencement speech to the class of 2020.

With the coronavirus postponing and cancelling graduation ceremonies at high schools and colleges nationwide, a Los Angeles high school senior sent out a tweet that went from a message in a bottle to a viral tsunami.

Lincoln Debenham, a senior at Eagle Rock High School, sent out his request tagging Obama on Thursday morning.

Under than five hours, the tweet surged to more than 40,000 retweets and nearly 200,000 likes.

High school and college seniors started sharing the tweet and composing their own under the hashtag #ObamaCommencement2020, with the trend eventually reaching celebrities like Julia Louis-Dreyfus.

Obama has given speeches at colleges and universities such as Wesleyan University in 2008, the University of Michigan in 2010, Barnard College in 2012 and Howard University in 2016.

As of late Thursday afternoon, Obama had not publicly commented on the idea.