President Trump’s birthday festivities include peace talks with Iran, a family dinner at the White House, and watching a UFC match.
President Trump is ‘not happy’ about turning 80
President Trump, who turns 80 on June 14, said in a video with Dr. Mehmet Oz that he was “not happy about my birthday.”
A family dinner, a phone call from a celebrant, an evening show – President Donald Trump’s 80th birthday is in some ways typical of milestone celebrations, with a few big twists.
President Trump also spent his first day as an octogenarian on Sunday, June 14, trying to reach a peace deal with Iran, and his after-dinner entertainment, a mixed martial arts cage match, was one of the most unique events in White House history.
Trump is the second president to reach the age of 80 in office, and he celebrated his birthday amid questions about his health. For a president who has long sought to project strength, a birthday that highlights his advanced age is not something he has given much thought to.
“I don’t need to celebrate my birthday, because I’m not happy about my birthday,” President Trump recently told Dr. Mehmet Oz, administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, in the Oval Office. “It’s a number I’ve never really thought about. It’s not my favorite number, but I’m still here.”
Anyway, birthday wishes poured in. Trump administration officials and Republican lawmakers congratulated the president on social media. Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy both met on President Trump’s birthday.
The call was a reminder of the failure of President Trump’s efforts to end the war in Ukraine, but the president was focused Sunday on another conflict that also proved difficult to de-escalate.
President Trump’s birthday began with a new military attack in Beirut by Israel, which the country said was in retaliation for projectiles fired at Israel by the militant group Hezbollah.
Israel’s escalation in Lebanon threatens to derail President Trump’s efforts to reach a peace deal with Iran, and the president condemned the attack on social media.
“This could be the beginning of a long and beautiful peace – let’s not destroy it!” Trump said.
Sunday’s move to conclude a peace deal came as President Trump was scheduled to celebrate his birthday with a family dinner at the White House later in the evening before attending an Ultimate Fighting Championship event.
The South Lawn of the White House has been transformed into a makeshift UFC arena, including seating for thousands of people and an octagonal fighting ring with a 90-foot-tall “claw.”
President Trump has been hyping the event for months, including bringing athletes into the Oval Office and displaying a UFC championship belt on his desk.
“These are real warriors,” President Trump said of UFC fighters at a May 6 White House event. “When we talk about warriors, they are warriors.”
President Trump’s own health has been in the spotlight recently, with bruises on his hands, swelling on his feet, and a habit of closing his eyes to stretch during public events, making him appear to be dozing off.
But President Trump and his doctors say he is doing well. White House physician Capt. Sean Barbavera summarized the results of last month’s medical exam, writing that President Trump is “sufficiently fit to carry out all the duties of commander-in-chief and head of state.”
“I feel the same way I felt 50 years ago,” President Trump said at a White House event on May 4. “I’m not your senior. I’m much younger than you.”
Contributors: Swapna Venugopal Ramaswamy, Joey Garrison
