President Joe Biden’s age is an issue. Multiple polls have noted the majority of Americans have concerns about his age and fitness to effectively serve a second term.
A November New York Times poll showed 71% of swing-state voters believe Biden is “too old to be an effective president.” The same poll found only 39% said the same of Donald Trump.
The reality has prompted mixed messaging from the White House — from wanting to avoid mentioning Biden’s age or November birthday to leaning into it.
On Monday, the president leaned into it by posting a photo of a birthday celebration in which he was served a birthday cake ablaze with 81 candles.
Attempting humor, Biden’s Instagram post included the caption: “Turns out on your 146th birthday, you run out of space for candles!”
The high-octane top of the cake ignited a firestorm of unflattering comments across social media channels. Many view the ill-advised photo post as fodder for the next SNL skit.
The president also joked, “I turned 81 and all I got was a new social platform. … And to the workers at the birthday candle factory, I hope your union got you overtime.”
Good humor notwithstanding, Biden’s post sparked merciless mockery.
One X user claimed Biden’s post was “the scariest photo [the President’s] ever taken.”
Another X user referred to the post as a “dumpster fire.” Another called it a “perfect metaphor for our country.”
Earlier in the day, Biden attempted to minimize his age during a turkey pardoning ceremony at the White House — a 74-year-old tradition. As he pardoned two turkeys, Liberty and Bell, Biden joked that he was not present for the first turkey-pardoning ceremony because he was too young.
The president also joked that he was turning 60 years old.
“I just want you to know it’s difficult turning 60. Difficult,” he told those gathered for the event.
Former president and current GOP frontrunner Donald Trump deftly released a clean medical report this week — shrewdly putting pressure on Biden to do the same.
Biden is currently the oldest serving American president.
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