President Donald Trump will celebrate his 80th birthday today with an extraordinary event at the White House, featuring a massive mixed martial arts spectacle. The 47th President of the United States, known for his showmanship, is expected to toast his milestone with a Diet Coke and a McDonald's Happy Meal, rather than champagne.
A Trumpian Spectacle on the South Lawn
Trump is staging a £45 million Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) bout under a 600-tonne, 90-foot-high red, white and blue arch on the South Lawn. Nearly 5,000 invited guests will watch the blood-thirsty fights inside the Octagon, an eight-sided, 30-foot-wide cage. The event is being paid for by TKO, the parent company, not American taxpayers.
Trump has joked about making the structure permanent, comparing it to the Eiffel Tower in Paris. The spectacle is designed to appeal to his core support among younger men aged 18 to 34.
Birthday Traditions and Family Time
Away from the razzmatazz, Trump will start his day with his family. He is famously teetotal and loves Diet Coke. Jennifer Ewing, spokeswoman for Republicans Overseas UK, said: “I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s gotten a free Happy Meal on his birthday through his favourite restaurant McDonald's.” Trump is also close with his grandchildren and will not be having a lie-in.
Comparisons to Iconic Birthday Celebrations
Former Conservative MP Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg compared Trump’s event to Marilyn Monroe’s seductive rendition of “Happy Birthday, Mr President” for John F. Kennedy in 1962. “If Trump could resurrect Marilyn Monroe, he probably would,” Rees-Mogg said. “He’s a showman, businessman, celebrity, and he likes a show.”
Criticism Amidst War and Inflation
Trump’s birthday wish is to “Make America Great Again” and he has mentioned peace, but critics note the ongoing US-Iran war and rising inflation. Ewing said: “If one of his birthday wishes was not peace, then maybe it wouldn't be as noticed… it's a fair criticism.” She added that extravagant events always draw criticism, similar to King Charles’s golden carriage.
Age and Cognitive Ability
Trump is the second US president to reach his 80s in office, following Joe Biden. He has passed the Montreal Cognitive Assessment three times, ruling out dementia. However, observers note he has become more exaggerated, rambles more, and swears more. Rees-Mogg said Trump is still “compos mentis” and there is “no obvious change” unlike Biden’s decline.
The birthday falls on Flag Day, just weeks before America’s 250th anniversary on July 4. The event is expected to draw 120,000 spectators outside the White House watching on large screens.
