WEST PALM BEACH, United States, June  14, 2024 (BSS/AFP) - Donald Trump,
whose attempt at a White House return is based in large part on attacking
President Joe Biden as old and feeble, turned 78 on Friday -- with growing
questions over his own mental and physical health.

Whoever wins the November election will set a new age record. At 81, Biden
is already the oldest man to hold the office and would continue to be so, while
if Trump wins, he would become the oldest ever at an inauguration.
Only three years separate the two men.

However, Trump, aided by the right-wing media ecosystem, has carefully
built an image of vigor in contrast to an opponent he routinely claims is
"sleepy" or even senile.

Whether staging photo-ops with martial arts personalities or performing his
trademark short dance at the end of rallies, Trump spares little effort to come
across as an energetic showman.

Heavy use of cosmetics and hairspray typically give him a look -- at a
distance -- of a tanned and younger man.

Trump will aim to maintain that image at a party in West Palm Beach, in his
home state of Florida, later Friday, when he speaks before a throng of paying
guests.

Club 47 USA, a Trump supporters' group, was hosting the event near the
ex-president's Mar-a-Lago residence and golf resort.

Invitations, featuring a picture of Trump grinning and hugging a US flag,
referred to him as "the best president ever."

The Republican is used to the flattery, with almost the entire party now
lined up behind him.

On Thursday, he received a rousing happy birthday message in Washington
from Republican members of Congress.

They included senior figures who only three years ago had denounced him
after cowering in fear as a mob of Trump supporters tried to storm the Capitol
to overturn Biden's 2020 election win.

- Unflattering Trump photo -

There were no warm wishes from the Biden camp.

The president's reelection campaign put out an unflattering close-up
photograph of a sweaty, disheveled Trump, titled: "Ah, another year around the
sun for Donald Trump."

Underneath, a list of 78 lifetime "accomplishments" was provided, ranging
from Trump's multiple bankruptcies to instances of far-right rhetoric, alleged
sexual misconduct, cheating at golf, his encouraging of the Capitol assault,
and recent felony conviction for business fraud in New York.

"Happy birthday, Donald. You're a crook, a failure, a fraud, and a threat
to our democracy, economy, rights, and future," Biden campaign spokesman James
Singer said. "Our early gift for your 79th: Making sure you are never president
again."

In response, a Trump spokeswoman described Biden as a "weak and incompetent
candidate" who has been "shuffling around like a brain-dead zombie at the G7
summit" in Italy this week.

- Trump exposure grows -

Polls show that a big majority of Americans think Biden is too old, while a
small majority think the same of Trump.

But Trump now faces months of intense media exposure, increasing the risk
of the same kinds of gaffes that have plagued Biden.

Just Thursday, a mini firestorm blew up when Trump was quoted as saying
that Milwaukee -- where the Republicans will hold their convention to nominate
Trump in July -- is a "horrible" place.

Attention is also growing on his often bizarre, meandering comments during
speeches, including a recent tirade against electric vehicles that involved a
sinking boat, a shark, and being electrocuted.

Trump appears conscious that attacks on Biden risk backfiring, given their
similar ages.

"He's not too old at all," Trump said in an interview last September. "Age
is interesting because some people are very sharp, and some people do lose it."