President Joe Biden is not planning to attend a celebration for his former running mate’s 60th birthday.
Biden will not attend former President Barack Obama’s 60th birthday party in Martha’s Vineyard on Friday, a White House official told The Hill.
“While President Biden is unable to attend this weekend, he looks forward to catching up with former President Obama soon and properly welcoming him into the over 60 club,” the official said.
Instead, the president is scheduled to travel to Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, on Friday.
The outlet reported last month that Obama was planning to hold a celebration for his 60th birthday at Martha’s Vineyard with dozens of friends, with one source telling The Hill, “It’s going to be big.”
According to Axios, there are 475 confirmed guests planning on attending the celebration, with more than 200 staff planning to work for the event.
The outlet also noted that the party will be held outside, and guests will be required to be tested for the coronavirus and asked to be vaccinated as well. Additionally, there will be a COVID coordinator at the event to ensure that protocols are followed.
The party comes amid concerns about the ongoing wave of new infections around the country, which has prompted the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to issue new mask guidance that recommends fully vaccinated people wear masks indoors in areas with “substantial or high transmission.”
Axios also reports that, “Obama officials did not say whether guests will be required to wear masks.”
However, it notes that Martha’s Vineyard does not have a “high” or “substantial” level of transmission of the virus.
