'Not a number I like': US President Donald Trump 'not happy' as he turns 80
White House transformed into UFC arena Iran conflict hangs over celebrations Contrast with Biden's 80th birthday Critics call event a distraction US President Donald Trump
White House transformed into UFC arena Iran conflict hangs over celebrations Contrast with Biden's 80th birthday Critics call event a distraction US President Donald Trump turned 80 on Sunday, a milestone he has admitted he is not particularly fond of, saying it is "not a number" he likes.Just days before his birthday, Trump told Dr Mehmet Oz, administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, that turning 80 was not something he was looking forward to."You don't have to wish me happy birthday because I'm not happy about that birthday that I'm having," Trump said, the USA Today reported."That's a number that I never thought really too much about. It's not a number I like, but I'm here, nevertheless," he added. The comments came during a conversation in the Oval Office on June 11, which was also Oz's 66th birthday.However, Trump is celebrating the occasion by hosting a massive Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) event on the White House grounds, turning the presidential residence into a temporary mixed martial arts arena.The UFC event, organised in partnership with UFC president Dana White, featured seven bouts and was linked to celebrations marking the 250th anniversary 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 14th and you are invited.And I want to wish you a happy birthday.
You're a young man. You have many, many years to go. You're doing a fantastic job," Trump told Oz before adding, "And you don't have to wish me a happy birthday."The birthday festivities came at a challenging political moment for Trump as the ongoing conflict with Iran continues to dominate headlines.While Trump has repeatedly suggested that a diplomatic breakthrough may be close, key 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.Trump's celebration stood in sharp contrast to that of former US President Joe Biden, who marked his 80th birthday in 2022 with a private family brunch at the White House.Defending the UFC event, White House spokesperson Allison Schuster said, "Having this spectacle take place at the people's house on Flag Day during our nation's semiquincentennial anniversary is a fitting tribute."Trump is currently the oldest person ever elected US president, surpassing Biden.
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