Barack Obama roasted for hosting party for 700 guests while asking Americans to donate $600 to his ‘Presidential Center’
BARACK Obama has been slammed for plans to host nearly 700 guests at his extravagant 60th birthday bash while urging Americans to donate $600 to fund his "Presidential Center."
The former president is reportedly hosting a lavish outdoor event at his $12million Martha’s Vineyard estate in Massachusetts next weekend with attendees asked to take a Covid-19 test and be vaccinated.
But as Barack's b-day celebrations loomed, fans were asked to fork out "$6, $60, $600 or an amount of your choosing to help bring the Obama Presidential Center to life on the South Side of Chicago" via his .
"[To] fuel our work to support emerging leaders around the world. Or simply tell us and President how you’ve spent 60 minutes—or even 60 seconds—giving back to your community," it read.
His senior advisor Valerie Jarrett also plugged the donation drive, tweeting: "My dear friend is turning 60 tomorrow. For his birthday gift, I'm asking you to chip in $6 or $60."
But the move has sparked concern online that the party could be a "super spreader"; event with one Twitter user commenting: "Will they be wearing masks while sipping their champagne?"
"Obama set to hold Covid Super Spreader Event," another added, while a third noted, "The elite do not have to follow the rules they have set for us."
Obama has reportedly invited 475 guests and employed 200 staff to work the event despite the rising number of Covid cases nationwide.
The agency's authors said the findings suggest that the CDC’s mask guidance should be expanded to include the entire country, even outside of hot spots.
Francis Collins, director of the National Institutes of Health, told CNN on Sunday: "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.
"But if there were 100 people, and, of course, how are you really going to be sure about people's vaccination status?"
A spokesperson for the Obamas said: "The guest list includes a large number of family members and friends to mark the occasion. The private event will be paid for with the family’s personal funds."