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Barack Obama 60th birthday bash: 500 people invited, ex-president flouts health guidelines

An angry tweet remarked, 'Obama plans 'big' 60th birthday party in Martha's Vineyard as threats of delta variant continue'

Barack Obama is about to throw the party of the year at Martha's Vineyards to celebrate his 60th birthday. Now the former President still enjoys a lot of love and support from his fandom. But this time around, he is facing severe pushback. Obama's birthday party guest list reportedly includes over 500 names which directly means this event violates CDC guidelines. 

The photographs from the unending crowd at the ongoing Lollapalooza music festival sent shockwaves across the country. Obama's event isn't going to be anything like that but a crowd of 500 people, even if everyone of them is vaccinated, does not get a clean chit, at least not from the National Institutes of Health (NIH). On August 1, NIH had announced that all big gatherings need to be avoided. "If you're talking about a small party like I might have at my house for six or eight people who are all fully vaccinated, I do not believe, at this point, we need to put masks on to be next to each other," Francis Collins, director of the National Institutes of Health, told CNN. "But if there were 100 people, and, of course, how are you really going to be sure about people's vaccination status?" he added. 

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Pearl Jam to perform

A spokesperson for the family told a media outlet that the guest list includes "a number of family members and friends to mark the occasion" while another outlet reported the guests will include names like Oprah Winfrey, George Clooney, and Steven Spielberg. Instead of gifts, the attendees are asked to "consider giving to programs that work to support boys and young men of color, and their families here at home in the United States, empower adolescent girls around the world and equip the next generation of emerging community leaders."

The event will take place at his mansion on Martha's Vineyards and the Obamas are paying for it by themselves, completely, according to reports. The $11.57 million seven-bedroom home was bought in 2019. The party will also feature a performance by Pearl Jam. There will be a 'COVID coordinator' in place to ensure all proper protocols are followed, however, there's no proof if a negative COVID test or a vaccine is required to be a part of this event and if this will be a masked event. 

"Obama Planning Luxurious Martha’s Vineyard Birthday Party as Everyday Americans Are Locked Down," wrote an internet user after news about his party violating CDC guidelines broke. "Rules for everyone but those the top of the socialist ladder. Obama defies CDC guidance by inviting 500 people to birthday party," another Internet user wrote on Twitter. "Obama plans 'big' 60th birthday party in Martha's Vineyard as threats of delta variant continue," another user wrote.