FLORIDA: Former President Donald Trump marked his 78th birthday on Friday night with a lively gathering in Florida, where he took aim at President Joe Biden, 81, characterizing him as unfit for office due to his age and performance.

Addressing a jubilant crowd at a convention center in West Palm Beach, near his Mar-a-Lago residence, Trump criticized Biden as "too frail" to manage a second term and lambasted the current administration's handling of the country. He also called for all presidents to undergo aptitude tests.

The event, hosted by the "Club 47" fan club, sold 5,000 tickets ranging from $35 to $60 each, and featured a towering multi-tiered birthday cake adorned with symbols such as a "Make America Great Again" hat, the American flag, and depictions of Trump golfing and in the Oval Office.

Attendees sang "Happy Birthday" and chanted "USA! USA!" as Trump took the stage. While the elaborate cake was for display, backstage a sheet cake with vanilla icing was served to some members of Trump's campaign staff.

Sen. Marco Rubio and Rep. Byron Donalds, both Florida Republicans, warmed up the crowd with praises for Trump and optimism about his prospects for a return to the White House.

Trump, despite his criticism of Biden, paradoxically encouraged his supporters to participate in early voting, vote by mail, and in-person on Election Day, while suggesting confidently, "We’ve got so many votes."

The event underscored Trump's enduring influence within the Republican Party, despite facing legal challenges, including 34 felony counts related to his finances. Trump defiantly declared, "In the end, they’re not after me. They’re after you and I just happened to be standing in their way."

Mary Lou and Sue Reardon, attendees from the Villages near Ocala, expressed unwavering support. "We just feel like he’s our last hope," said Sue Reardon, donning a US flag shirt and birthday headband.

Meanwhile, Biden's campaign countered Trump’s birthday celebration by highlighting what they describe as Trump’s negative impacts during his tenure, including policy proposals like cutting Social Security and Medicare, and the legal challenges he faces.

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