NEW YORK. Barack Obama turns 60 on August 4th. But even before the greeting cards and the party, scheduled for the weekend, the controversies arrived. The former president of the United States has in fact ended up in the crosshairs for the number of guests to the mega party that, in full alarm Covid, is organizing in his property overlooking the ocean on the island of Martha’s Vineyard, in Massachusetts.
According to sources close to the former president, as reported Axios e The Hill, those present could reach at least 700 between guests and service personnel. At the moment, at least 475 guests have confirmed their presence. Among the most illustrious VIPs of the caliber of Oprah Winfrey, George Clooney and Steven Spielberg. While President Joe Biden, the White House has announced, he will not be able to be present as he finds himself next weekend with his family in his retreat in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware. In addition to the guests there will be about two hundred people who will take care in all respects of the organization of the event.
However, the celebrations will be held outdoors and the guests – it is known – have been requested a vaccine and a negative Covid test. Despite this, many media do not fail to underline how the health authorities have advised against large gatherings in recent weeks taking into account the surge in the number of coronavirus cases linked above all to the Delta variant.
Alarming data that have led some local governments to recommend or reintroduce the use of the mask indoors even for vaccinated people. Massachusetts, among other things, is the state that is experiencing a boom in infections among the vaccinated. According to data from the Center for Disease Control, the highest federal health authority, 74 percent of infected people in the state of New England had received the vaccine. The big gatherings linked to summer events that took place above all in the renowned summer resort of Cape Cod, along whose coast is precisely the island of Martha’s Vineyard, are therefore in the sights. The latter, however, is not considered high-risk Covid, and Obama’s staff did not say whether or not the guests will be required to use a mask.
In any case, medical staff will also be present in the villa in case of emergencies. Meanwhile, as far as the celebrations are concerned, part of the entertainment will be entrusted to the iconic grunge band Pearl Jam, who will perform live. According to other rumors about gifts, the former president has asked that donations be made to organizations in favor of young African Americans and their families both in the United States and around the world. Obama usually throws big parties for his birthdays. When she turned 55 and 50 she threw White House parties with guests like Jay-Z, Stevie Wonder, Tom Hanks, Chris Rock, Ellen DeGeneres, Paul McCartney.