Today is former President Barack Obama’s 57th birthday, and people across the world — including those closest to him, like Michelle Obama and Joe Biden — took to social media to send him birthday wishes.
“Happy birthday @BarackObama! The view is always better with you,” the former first lady tweeted alongside a sweet photo of the 44th POTUS.
Happy birthday @BarackObama! The view is always better with you. pic.twitter.com/7a6cAkjkAS
— Michelle Obama (@MichelleObama) August 4, 2018
Former Vice President Joe Biden — A.K.A. one half of the iconic Obama-Biden bromance — also used Twitter to wish his “brother” and “friend” a happy birthday.
Our lunches together were a highlight of every week at the White House. Last week’s trip to @DogTagBakery was no different. Happy birthday to my brother, my friend, @BarackObama. pic.twitter.com/0faYjvnPW6
— Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) August 4, 2018
BRB, crying.
John Legend, Ellen DeGeneres, Eric Garcetti, Laverne Cox, John Lewis, and a slew of additional notable figures tweeted Obama.
Happy #ObamaDay. We in Indonesia (where he lived for a few years) toasting our President.
— John Legend (@johnlegend) August 4, 2018
Happy birthday, @BarackObama. You busy? We could use some help.
— Ellen DeGeneres (@TheEllenShow) August 4, 2018
Happy Birthday, @BarackObama! Your service to America continues to inspire us. Proud to call you a friend. pic.twitter.com/zZfOObe3Rv
— Mayor Eric Garcetti (@MayorOfLA) August 4, 2018
#ObamaDay happy birthday @BarackObama. We love you so much! pic.twitter.com/lOUohaybkM
— Laverne Cox (@Lavernecox) August 4, 2018
Happy Birthday, @BarackObama #goodtrouble pic.twitter.com/yx7y5Y9bmd
— John Lewis (@repjohnlewis) August 4, 2018
Thank you, @BarackObama. It is an honor to be in the world at the same time as you. Let alone the same room. #ObamaDay pic.twitter.com/O3IyABxY1B
— Ava DuVernay (@ava) August 4, 2018
Wishing a Happy Birthday to President Barack Obama and Happy #ObamaDay to Everyone! Love. pic.twitter.com/IpVutfByv9
— COMMON (@common) August 4, 2018
Happy Birthday @BarackObama #VoteOrDie pic.twitter.com/ONmPY2Btqd
— Diddy (@Diddy) August 4, 2018
Happy birthday Barack Obama! (The below picture was taken when President Obama visited our office in my first campaign for Congress). #Obamaday pic.twitter.com/NiYe0ZtZwJ
— Ted Lieu (@tedlieu) August 4, 2018
Getty and POLITICO also shared a few iconic photographs of the former president.
On his 57th birthday, look back at #BarackObama living his best lifehttps://t.co/qLt45EtS6H
— Getty Images (@GettyImages) August 4, 2018
57 photos of Barack Obama on His 57th Birthday https://t.co/WhppXqpj0h pic.twitter.com/QcxD4bEXgB
— POLITICO (@politico) August 4, 2018
The day not only marks Obama’s 57th birthday, but also Illinois’ first annual “Barack Obama day.” The state holiday was created after a measure unanimously passed the Illinois legislature and Republican Governor Bruce Rauner signed the bill into law last year. Illinois is a special place for Obama, as he began his political career there.
“It’s incredibly proud for Illinois that the president came from Illinois. I think it’s awesome, and I think we should celebrate it,” Rauner said in 2017. “I don’t think it should be a formal holiday with paid, forced time off, but I think it should be a day of acknowledgment and celebration.”
According to The Hill, “Barack Obama day” was intended to be a legal holiday with paid time off and closed government offices, but the final version of the bill acknowledged the day as a commemorative holiday instead.
Fun fact: today also marks the birthdays of Meghan Markle and the Sprouse twins.