Donald Trump’s 78th birthday turns into a present of loyalty for his followers and fellow Republicans

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Donald Trump spent the day earlier than his 78th birthday being feted by Republicans in Congress who sang “Completely satisfied Birthday” and offered him with a cake and presents. It was a outstanding present of loyalty for a former president who was shunned by most of the similar lawmakers after the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riot.

On Friday, Trump will get one other birthday celebration, this time with 1000’s of supporters in his adopted dwelling state.

Members of the “Membership 47” fan group will hear from Trump in West Palm Seaside, Florida, a brief drive from his Mar-a-Lago residence. The occasion offered out of 5,000 tickets at about $35 apiece, with nearer spots to the stage costing $60, in accordance with Membership 47 President Larry Snowden.

Weeks after turning into the first former president to have been convicted of a felony, Trump has tightened his grip on a lot of his occasion’s base and elected officers. Subsequent month, he’s scheduled to simply accept his occasion’s presidential nomination for the third time.

Trump is now three years youthful than Democratic President Joe Biden, who’s 81.

To mark the birthday of his normal election rival, Biden’s marketing campaign compiled an inventory of “78 of Trump’s historic… ‘accomplishments,’” with hyperlinks to media protection of coverage proposals together with “reducing Social Safety and Medicare,” Trump’s presidency throughout GOP losses within the U.S. Home and Senate and various references to his authorized circumstances.

“On behalf of America, our early reward to your 79th: Ensuring you might be by no means President once more,” Biden marketing campaign spokesperson James Singer added to the birthday needs.

Trump was in Washington Thursday to satisfy with Home and Senate Republicans in his first go to to Capitol Hill because the riot, which was carried out by Trump supporters looking for to overturn his 2020 loss to Biden. A room of Home Republicans sang “Completely satisfied Birthday” to Trump and gifted him with a baseball and bat from the annual congressional recreation.

Senators later offered an American flag cake with 45 candles, referencing that Trump was the forty fifth president. Sen. John Barrasso of Wyoming then added two extra candles with the numerals 4 and seven.

“We’re all dedicated to ensure he turns into the forty seventh president,” Barrasso informed reporters later, including: “As he was sitting there, I pull them out, put them on. He beloved it. And that was the final large applause on the finish while you heard that.”

Among the many senators who attended the gathering was Senate Republican Chief Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, who endorsed Trump earlier this 12 months despite not having spoken since 2020. Barrasso informed reporters that Trump and McConnell spoke and exchanged a fist bump.

Snowden, Membership 47’s president, and others mentioned they count on Trump to speak concerning the verdict in New York as a part of his common marketing campaign message. Trump can be sentenced July 11.

“Our persons are anxious to listen to his expression of his dedication to maneuver forward. I do know that he’s dedicated to proceed to maneuver forward it doesn’t matter what the left-wing aspect of our nation throws at him,” Snowden mentioned.

Membership 47 is predicated in Palm Seaside County and says on its web site that the membership’s purpose is to maintain Trump’s supporters “in our space related and engaged.” Trump most just lately spoke to the membership in October, days after the Oct. 7 Hamas assaults on Israel.

Lydia Maldonado, a neighborhood Hispanic activist who plans to attend Friday, mentioned she’s ceaselessly attended occasions at Membership 47 and been surrounded by a crowd adorned in U.S. flag shirts, Trump 2024 gear and U.S.-themed costumes.

Maldonado mentioned this occasion is exclusive in comparison with any rally or occasion nationwide with the previous president. Maldonado mentioned she’s excited to be at an occasion for Trump’s birthday, however she additionally thinks Trump feels comfy and acquainted with this crowd because it’s his hometown.

“The aim of getting this occasion is just about to let him know the way a lot the group right here loves him and the way a lot the group helps him,” Maldonado mentioned.

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Related Press writers Jill Colvin in Washington and Meg Kinnard in Columbia, South Carolina, contributed to this report.

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