President Biden Celebrates 81st Birthday
This week, President Biden had a good time celebrating his 81st birthday at the White House. The President even displayed his sense of humor by jocularly pardoning a couple of Thanksgiving turkeys on the White House lawn. You’re never too old for a few laughs, right?
He later joked about turning 146 on Instagram, and on Threads, he posted a photo sitting down with a blazing cake. “To the workers at the birthday candle factory,” he wrote, “I hope your union got you overtime.” It’s nice to see him so at ease regarding his age and having some fun with it.
It’s a positive step that Biden is comfortable being so publicly lighthearted about his age. Despite the criticism, embracing his status as America’s oldest president helps to defang the primary GOP line of attack against him: too old, too feeble.
Critics of President Biden can’t seem to offer their congratulations. The Wall Street Journal, for instance, has been fixated on Biden’s age for years, while not mentioning its just-retired chairman, Rupert Murdoch’s, advanced age. It’s interesting how selective some individuals can be with this mature-laced narrative.
Biden’s critics argue that he’s too old or frail to run for a second term, but this is gravely laughable. Despite harsh commentary and a plummet in his presidential approval ratings, Biden has still managed to chalk up an impressive list of achievements during his time in the White House.
We live in a society that often emphasizes youth and vigor. Critics who have something negative to say about the President’s age might want to take note of the older individuals who continue to achieve great things: the 80-year-old director Michael Mann, who is currently captivating modern movie audiences, and the age-defying Jane Fonda starring in numerous movies at the age of 85.
The fact is, Biden’s triumphs during his presidency should not be overshadowed by his age. Embracing aging and achieving many things in the midst of it are possible now more than ever.
In the most recent circumstances, Biden’s press secretary went on the record by joking that “80 is the new 40.” As the old saying seems to go, age is just a number. Well, let President Biden’s vitality and hard work be a shining beacon that reminds us that age isn’t a barrier to making significant achievements. Happy birthday, President Biden!
