President Biden turned 82 on Wednesday, sparking well-wishes from Washington allies and solidifying his record as the oldest sitting U.S. president in history.
Mr. Biden was expected to celebrate the milestone in private. He had nothing on his schedule besides his daily presidential briefing after returning late Tuesday from a trip to South America to meet with international leaders.
“Happy birthday to my dear friend and our incredible president, Joe Biden,” Vice President Kamala Harris wrote on X with a photo of the pair smiling in front of an American flag.
Former President Barack Obama also posted a photograph of him walking with Mr. Biden, who served as his vice president.
Mr. Biden took office at age 78 in 2021, easily breaking the Inauguration Day record of 70 set by President-elect Donald Trump when the GOP leader started his first term in 2017.
Before Mr. Biden, President Ronald Reagan had been the oldest president at the end of his White House tenure, at 77.
Concerns about Mr. Biden’s age and abilities took a toll during this year’s presidential campaign. Mr. Biden withdrew under pressure from Democrats and endorsed Ms. Harris, who became the nominee and lost to Mr. Trump.
Mr. Trump, who turned 78 in June, will eclipse Mr. Biden’s record as the oldest president on Inauguration Day and the oldest sitting president by the end of his term in 2029.
• Tom Howell Jr. can be reached at thowell@washingtontimes.com.
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