US President Donald Trump turned 80 on Sunday, a milestone he admitted he doesn’t particularly like, saying it’s “not a number” he likes.Just days before his birthday, Trump told Dr. Mehmet Oz, director of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, that turning 80 was not something he was looking forward to.
USA Today quoted Trump as saying: “You don’t have to wish me a happy birthday because I’m not happy this birthday.”He added, “This is a number I haven’t thought about much. It’s a number I don’t like, but I’m here nonetheless.” The comments came during a conversation in the Oval Office on June 11, which was also Oz’s 66th birthday.
The White House turned into a UFC arena
However, Trump is marking the occasion by hosting a massive Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) event on the grounds of the White House, turning the presidential residence into a makeshift mixed martial arts arena.
The UFC event, organized in partnership with UFC president Dana White, featured seven bouts and was tied to celebrations of the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States, which also coincided with Flag Day.In a video shared by Oz, he jokingly pointed to the giant octagon set up on the South Lawn and asked Trump what was happening behind them.“So we’re going to have a fight and it’s going to be on June 14 and you’re invited.
And I want to wish you a happy birthday. You are young. You have many years to come. “You’re doing a great job, and you don’t have to wish me a happy birthday,” Trump told Oz before adding: “You’re doing a great job, and you don’t have to wish me a happy birthday.”
The Iranian conflict overshadows the celebrations
The Christmas celebrations came at a difficult political moment for Trump, as the ongoing conflict with Iran continues to dominate headlines.While Trump has repeatedly indicated that a diplomatic breakthrough may be imminent, the basic details of any potential agreement remain unresolved.The celebrations were also overshadowed by a court ruling that led to workers removing Trump’s name from the Kennedy Center, located a short distance from the White House.
In contrast to Biden’s 80th birthday
Trump’s celebration contrasted sharply with that of former US President Joe Biden, who celebrated his 80th birthday in 2022 with a private family brunch at the White House.“Having this spectacle at the People’s House on Flag Day during our nation’s bicentennial is a fitting tribute,” White House press secretary Allison Schuster said in defense of the UFC event.Trump is currently the oldest person ever to be elected President of the United States, surpassing Biden. Although he is constitutionally barred from running for another term, he has continued to publicly joke about extending his political career.
Critics describe the event as a distraction
The event also drew criticism from some observers who said it served as a distraction from issues including the Iranian conflict, inflation fears and low approval ratings.According to the Associated Press, Mike Fontaine compared this scene to gladiatorial games in ancient Rome.
“This is all a distraction,” Fontaine said. “This is a classic strategy. In ancient Rome, the phrase was ‘bread and circuses.'”While Trump has said the UFC is covering the costs, court filings from the National Park Service show that more than $60 million and tens of thousands of man-hours have been allocated to preparations, with multiple federal agencies involved.Adding to the controversy, the UFC announced that World Liberty Financial, a cryptocurrency company linked to the Trump family, will sponsor a special $250,000 bonus pool for the night’s winning fighters.