Donald Trump birthday: POTUS turns 74 and the Internet offers him 'restraining order' and 'conscience' as gifts
As protests against police brutality and racist policies continue on to a third week in the aftermath of the death of 46-year-old African-American, George Floyd, US President Donald Trump is set to celebrate his 74th birthday on Sunday, June 14. As Trump supporters get ready to celebrate with a "Trump’s Birthday Boat Rally" in Florida, his critics have taken to social media to discuss what to get for his birthday.
The George Floyd protests began on May 26, after a video surfaced showing Floyd died after former Minneapolis police officer, Derek Chauvin kneeled on Floyd's neck for nearly nine minutes, despite pleas from Floyd that he could not breathe. Since then, protests have spread to all 50 states of the country and internationally and many have called for strict policy reforms around police. Over the course of the protests, Trump has taken to calling the protests "thugs" and has drawn widespread criticism for his hardline, militarized response, and aggressive rhetoric
Meanwhile, the Trump administration also rolled back transgender healthcare protections on Friday, June 13. According to the new version of the policy, the Department of Health and Human Services will be "returning to the government’s interpretation of sex discrimination according to the plain meaning of the word ‘sex’ as male or female and as determined by biology". The new rule also makes changes to gender-based discrimination beyond Section 1557 of the ACA — it affects regulations pertaining to access to health insurance, for example, including cost-sharing, health plan marketing, and benefits. The rule could also mean that those seeking an abortion could be denied care if performing the procedure violates the provider's moral or religious beliefs.
Many took to the internet to mock Trump's birthday over what to gift him. One user tweeted, "Restraining order from Melania Trump! #TrumpBirthdayGifts," while another tweeted, "For [Americans] to file a restraining order #TrumpBirthdayGifts." A user tweeted, "A conscience," while another joked, "#TrumpBirthdayGifts A brain? A heart? A soul? A conscience? What do you get the man who has nothing... .?"
One user joked, "Can someone buy him better foundation or spray tan for his birthday because he can't shad match at all and application is s**tty at best. #TrumpBirthdayGifts," as another tweeted, "A new riot full of BLM protester LGBTQ protesters and ICE protesters have fun love #TrumpBirthdayGifts." Having initially hidden in the secret bunker at the White House, Trump had decided to walk down to the St John's Episcopal Church through Lafayette Park to pose with a bible — which he would end up holding upside down — as hundreds spoke out against police brutality and racial inequality around the compound. Trump had been criticized for the photo-op by the likes of DC's Episcopal Bishop Marian Budde, presumptive Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden and New York Governor Andrew Cuomo.
Trump further stoked controversy over race issues and policing by remarking on Friday that chokeholds sounded “so innocent and so perfect”, and once again claimed he has been the best president for black Americans – only partially conceding that Abraham Lincoln may have surpassed him.