Former President Donald Trump, who turned 78 on June 14th, spent the day before his birthday meeting with Republican lawmakers in Congress. The event included a rendition of “Happy Birthday” and the presentation of a cake and gifts, demonstrating the continued support Trump enjoys among many in his party, despite the controversy surrounding the January 6, 2021 Capitol riot.
On Friday, Trump will attend another birthday celebration in West Palm Beach, Florida, organized by the “Club 47” fan group. The event, which will take place near Trump’s Mar-a-Lago residence, has sold out of its 5,000 tickets, priced at around $35-$60 each.
Trump’s influence within the Republican Party remains strong, even after his recent felony conviction. He is set to accept the party’s presidential nomination for the third time next month.
At 78, Trump is now three years younger than his potential general election rival, President Joe Biden, who is 81. To mark Trump’s birthday, the Biden campaign compiled a list of “78 of Trump’s historic ‘accomplishments,'” highlighting various policy proposals and controversies from Trump’s presidency.
During his Capitol Hill visit on Thursday, Trump met with House and Senate Republicans for the first time since the January 6th riot. House Republicans sang “Happy Birthday” and presented him with a baseball and bat, while senators gifted him an American flag cake with 47 candles, symbolizing their hope that he will become the 47th president.
Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell, who had not spoken with Trump since 2020, was among the senators who attended the gathering and reportedly exchanged a fist bump with the former president.
