What We Know About Joe Biden's Virtual Birthday Tribute To Barack Obama
Mia Walsh According to the Metro, other reported A-list attendees of former President Obama's 60th birthday included Beyoncé and Jay-Z, who have enjoyed a close friendship with the Obama family throughout the years.
Originally, the event near Provincetown, Massachusetts, had been planned to host nearly 500 guests and 200 staff members. However, hosting a large-scale event in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic sparked a wave of backlash. Eventually, the Obamas altered their plans in favor of a smaller party.
Speaking to The New York Times, Obama's spokeswoman, Hannah Hankins, said, "Due to the new spread of the Delta variant over the past week, the President and Mrs. Obama have decided to significantly scale back the event to include only family and close friends." She concluded, "He's appreciative of others sending their birthday wishes from afar and looks forward to seeing people soon."