Former US President Donald Trump celebrated his 78th birthday on Friday, marking a milestone that highlights the advanced age of both major-party candidates in the upcoming US presidential election. US President Joe Biden, currently 81, and Trump are the oldest individuals to seek the office.
The Biden campaign did not shy away from the occasion, issuing a sharp message branding Trump a “crook, a failure, and a fraud.” The campaign statement read, “Happy birthday, Donald. You’re a crook, a failure, a fraud, and a threat to our democracy, economy, rights, and future. On behalf of America, our early gift for your 79th: Making sure you are never President again.”
Adding to the pointed birthday message, the Biden administration shared a satirical list of Trump’s 78 “accomplishments,” highlighting various controversies and legal issues. The list referenced Trump’s business struggles, his response to the 2017 Charlottesville white nationalist rally, his controversial call for the death penalty for the Central Park Five, a social media video that mentioned a “unified Reich,” his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, attempts to overturn the Affordable Care Act, and his role in the end of Roe v. Wade.
In a separate post on social media platform X, President Biden shared a video contrasting his policies with those of Trump, accompanied by the message, “Happy 78th birthday, Donald. Take it from one old guy to another: Age is just a number. This election, however, is a choice.”
Trump Addresses Supporters in Florida
On his birthday, Trump addressed a crowd in Florida, where he criticized President Biden as too frail for a second term. “Our country is being destroyed by incompetent people,” Trump asserted. He suggested that all presidents should undergo aptitude tests, questioning Biden’s mental sharpness and ability to govern effectively.
Despite his criticisms, Trump encouraged his supporters to participate in early voting, vote by mail, and vote in person on Election Day. He concluded with a confident message, “I actually tell our people, we don’t need your vote. We’ve got so many votes.”
Age and mental acuity have been central themes in the race between Trump and Biden, often overshadowing policy discussions as the November 5 election approaches.
