--- description: Former President Barack Obama is celebrating his 57th birthday on Aug. 4, which is also the first Barack Obama Day in Illinois. title: Former President Obama Is Celebrating His 57th Birthday image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blta0c17d0216350c2d/69893707fb4eacda5089749e/barack-obama.jpeg?branch=production&width=3840&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  * [Newsfeed](/tag/time-section-newsfeed/) ## Newsfeed Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close # Barack Obama Turned 57 Today. The State of Illinois (and the Internet) Celebrated With Him ## Video: Barack Obama Reunited With Joe Biden at a Bakery to Support Veterans [Watch (HLS stream): Barack Obama Reunited With Joe Biden at a Bakery to Support Veterans](https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/YPAbcUJE.m3u8) (0:44)  _Published 2018-07-31. Former United States president Barack Obama reunited with his vice president and dear friend Joe Biden over lunch at the Dog Tag Bakery in Georgetown, Washington D.C._  by [Jamie Ducharme](/author/jamie-ducharme/)  ## Jamie Ducharme Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close Ducharme is a contributor to TIME. Aug 4, 2018 7:01 PM CUT  Barack Obama speaks during the 2018 Nelson Mandela Annual Lecture at the Wanderers cricket stadium in Johannesburg on July 17, 2018. Barack Obama speaks during the 2018 Nelson Mandela Annual Lecture at the Wanderers cricket stadium in Johannesburg on July 17, 2018.MARCO LONGARI—AFP/Getty Images  by [Jamie Ducharme](/author/jamie-ducharme/)  ## Jamie Ducharme Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close Ducharme is a contributor to TIME. Aug 4, 2018 7:01 PM CUT Former President Barack Obama turned 57 on Saturday — and for the first time, his birthday is being celebrated as a commemorative holiday in his former home of Illinois. Last year, the Illinois legislature [passed a bill](http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/publicacts/fulltext.asp?Name=100-0037 "undefined") declaring Aug. 4 Barack Obama Day, to celebrate “the 44th President of the United States of America who began his career serving the People of Illinois in both the Illinois State Senate and the United States Senate, and dedicated his life to protecting the rights of Americans and building bridges across communities.” This is the first year the law has been in effect. Outside of Illinois, a number of prominent figures turned up online to celebrate Obama’s big day. Former First Lady Michelle Obama posted her [customary touching birthday tribute](http://time.com/4887709/michelle-obama-barack-obama-a-happy-birthday-wish-photo/ "undefined"), and former Vice President Joe Biden posted a selfie of [the two friends after their recent reunion at Dog Tag Bakery](http://time.com/5353160/obama-biden-bakery/ "undefined"). > [](https://twitter.com/MichelleObama/status/1025749969385467904) > [](https://twitter.com/JoeBiden/status/1025717580793884672) > [](https://twitter.com/TheEllenShow/status/1025773750137094145) > [](https://twitter.com/repjohnlewis/status/1025782231363723264) > [](https://twitter.com/TeamPelosi/status/1025728660203089920) > [](https://twitter.com/NobelPrize/status/1025632682858954752) ```json [{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://time.com/5358013/barack-obama-birthday-57/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://time.com/5358013/barack-obama-birthday-57/"},"headline":"Barack Obama Turned 57 Today. 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