Barack Obama turns 60 years young today (Aug. 4), so it’s only right that he celebrates another year around the sun. Unfortunately, due to concerns with the new COVID-19 variants, a few changes have been made to his scheduled birthday bash.
Initially, Obama’s event was set for Saturday (Aug. 7) at Martha’s Vineyard and was expected to have 200 workers and hundreds of other guests including Steven Spielberg, Oprah Winfrey and George Clooney, who were all required to test negative for COVID-19.
With rising COVID-19 Delta variant cases, however, Obama has decided to dial it back a bit and make his birthday celebration more intimate.
“This outdoor event was planned months ago in accordance with all public health guidelines and COVID[-19] safeguards in place,” Obama’s spokesperson Hanna Hankins said in a statement on Wednesday (Aug. 4). “Due to the new spread of the Delta variant over the past week, the [former] president and Mrs. Obama have decided to significantly scale back the event to include only family and close friends. President Obama is appreciative of others sending their birthday wishes from afar and looks forward to seeing people soon.”
Among the many birthday wishes sent Obama’s way were posts from Viola Davis and Benjamin Crump. President Joe Biden took to social media to share a photo of him and Obama giving each other a high five. “Happy birthday, @BarackObama,” he wrote. “I’m proud to call you a brother and a friend — and I’m grateful for your selfless service to this nation.”
His wife, Michelle Obama, also showed her partner some love on his day. “Of all your accomplishments, I know that being a present, loving to our girls tops them all,” she penned the caption of a family portrait. “Thank you for never letting the weight of the world get in the way of being a wonderful husband and father. Happy 60th birthday, @BarackObama.”
In a follow-up post, she said that she is still turning her head for her husband after all these years.
See all aforementioned posts below.