Birthday boy Donald Trump flies back to Washington and is greeted by fresh wave of protests 

Birthday boy Donald Trump flies back to Washington after weekend at his Bedminster golf course – and is greeted by fresh wave of protests outside the White House

  • Donald Trump celebrated his 74th birthday Sunday at his New Jersey golf course
  • He returned to the White House Sunday with Ivanka and Jared, but not Melania
  • In Fort Lauderdale and Jacksonville, Florida, supporters held a birthday flotilla 
  • In Washington DC critics smashed a birthday cake into crumbs and protested 

By Harriet Alexander For Dailymail.com

Published: 20:55 EDT, 14 June 2020 | Updated: 22:12 EDT, 14 June 2020

Donald Trump landed back in Washington DC on Sunday night after celebrating his 74th birthday at his New Jersey golf course alongside daughter Ivanka and son-in-law Jared Kushner – but his wife Melania was nowhere to be seen.

And the president arrived back to find fresh protests outside of the White House, who smashed a birthday cake to mark the day.

Trump, who on Saturday addressed graduating cadets at West Point, left Bedminster on Sunday accompanied by aides including Ivanka and Kushner, as well as social media chief Dan Scavino. The White House said Deputy Staff Secretary Catherine Keller was also traveling.

But there was no sign of the first lady, and unlike Ivanka she did not wish him a happy birthday on Twitter. 

Ivanka had earlier tweeted a picture of herself as a child sat on her father’s knee with the caption: ‘Happy birthday @realdonaldtrump! Love you!’ 

Donald Trump returned to the White House early on Sunday evening from Bedminster, NJ

Donald Trump returned to the White House early on Sunday evening from Bedminster, NJ

Donald Trump returned to the White House early on Sunday evening from Bedminster, NJ

Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner joined the president on the flight back to Washington

Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner joined the president on the flight back to Washington

Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner joined the president on the flight back to Washington

The first daughter posted a series of tweets to mark her father's 74th birthday

The first daughter posted a series of tweets to mark her father's 74th birthday

The first daughter posted a series of tweets to mark her father’s 74th birthday

Ivanka, 38, shared a childhood photograph of herself and her father to mark the special day

Ivanka, 38, shared a childhood photograph of herself and her father to mark the special day

Ivanka, 38, shared a childhood photograph of herself and her father to mark the special day

The First Lady’s notable absence came as a new book confirmed a longtime rumor that she renegotiated her prenup agreement with Donald Trump before she moved into the White House after he won the presidency

Melania’s office have branded the book, ‘The Art of Her Deal: The Untold Story of Melania Trump,’ by Washington Post reporter Mary Jordan, as ‘fiction.’

Trump’s return to DC on Sunday was marked by protests outside the White House, where crowds have gathered for almost three weeks following the death of George Floyd on May 25 in Minneapolis. 

Thousands had marched on Sunday morning from the National Museum of African American History and Culture to the area in front of the White House.

The area outside the White House had infamously been cleared with gas and flash bangs on June 1 so Trump could have a photo opportunity at the historic St John’s Episcopal Church.

The area in front of the church was a sea of protest and praying on Sunday, as chants, singing and preaching was heard from Jewish, Hindu, Muslim, Sikh and Christian faith leaders.

Trump's adversaries marked his birthday by staging a protest outside the White House

Trump's adversaries marked his birthday by staging a protest outside the White House

Trump’s adversaries marked his birthday by staging a protest outside the White House

A birthday 'cake' was smashed into pieces by protesters calling for racial justice

A birthday 'cake' was smashed into pieces by protesters calling for racial justice

A birthday ‘cake’ was smashed into pieces by protesters calling for racial justice 

Black Baptists and black Pentecostals were among those demonstrating Sunday morning, and Rev. Dr. William J. Barber joined in the broad effort to bless the protest movement later in the day.

Barber, co-chair of a faith-based advocacy group called Poor People’s Campaign, also delivered a stinging sermon from Washington National Cathedral — with 14,000 viewers watching live online.

He said Floyd’s killing and the disproportionate deaths of minorities and the poor during the pandemic are consistent with America’s history and its ‘unnecessary accepting of death.’

He mentioned the deaths of Native Americans, of Africans brought as slaves, and of children who suffered and died due to child labor practices.

‘This raw truth needs to be heard in this country because America has a long history of death that leads us to this moment!’ he said. 

‘Until we face it we can’t repent right. America, you’re killing yourself!’

Protesters danced in the streets, and flew inflatable Trump baby balloons over the area. 

Protesters in Washington DC continued to demonstrate for the third week running

Protesters in Washington DC continued to demonstrate for the third week running

Protesters in Washington DC continued to demonstrate for the third week running

Dancing protesters in Washington DC on Sunday, as Donald Trump marked his 74th birthday

Dancing protesters in Washington DC on Sunday, as Donald Trump marked his 74th birthday

Dancing protesters in Washington DC on Sunday, as Donald Trump marked his 74th birthday

Baby Trump balloons were flown near the White House as demonstrators took to the streets

Baby Trump balloons were flown near the White House as demonstrators took to the streets

Baby Trump balloons were flown near the White House as demonstrators took to the streets

The protests in DC were not the only ones to take place on Sunday. 

Demonstrators took to the streets across the country, with protests from New York City to Montana and Los Angeles.

In LA, Hollywood Boulevard was shut down as a large crowd marched down the famous avenue, calling for justice for Floyd and others.

The march, during Pride month, was organized by the city’s LGBTQIA+ community. 

In Helena, Montana, protesters on Sunday demanded justice for George Floyd

In Helena, Montana, protesters on Sunday demanded justice for George Floyd

In Helena, Montana, protesters on Sunday demanded justice for George Floyd

The Hollywood Boulevard in Los Angeles was the scene of a large demonstration on Sunday

The Hollywood Boulevard in Los Angeles was the scene of a large demonstration on Sunday

The Hollywood Boulevard in Los Angeles was the scene of a large demonstration on Sunday

In New York City, a protester on Sunday held aloft a tribute to George Floyd, killed on May 25

In New York City, a protester on Sunday held aloft a tribute to George Floyd, killed on May 25

In New York City, a protester on Sunday held aloft a tribute to George Floyd, killed on May 25

Yet Trump’s birthday was greeted with a more festive atmosphere in Florida.

Hundreds of people took to the waters of Fort Lauderdale and Jacksonville, waving flags in a flotilla celebrating his 74th.

Dubbed the ‘Trumpilla’, the event in Jacksonville saw more than 1,000 boats join in.

‘It’s all about patriotism,’ organizer Esther Byrd told News4Jax. 

‘We love our country, we get frustrated about the negativity. We do what we can and we wave our flags and sing God Bless America together.’ 

The rally comes days after Republican National Committee Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel announced that Jacksonville will host part of the Republican National Convention, in August. 

More than 1,000 pro-Trump boaters took to the waters off Jacksonville, Florida on Sunday

More than 1,000 pro-Trump boaters took to the waters off Jacksonville, Florida on Sunday

More than 1,000 pro-Trump boaters took to the waters off Jacksonville, Florida on Sunday

In Fort Lauderdale on Sunday a festive atmosphere marked the president's 74th birthday

In Fort Lauderdale on Sunday a festive atmosphere marked the president's 74th birthday

In Fort Lauderdale on Sunday a festive atmosphere marked the president’s 74th birthday

Crowds gathered to watch the flotilla, and bikers joined in the celebrations in Jacksonville

Crowds gathered to watch the flotilla, and bikers joined in the celebrations in Jacksonville

Crowds gathered to watch the flotilla, and bikers joined in the celebrations in Jacksonville

In Tampa around 200 boats joined a ‘Trumpilla’ organized near Apollo Beach, while a group set sail from Fort Lauderdale to pass Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate.  

John Ross, co-organizer of South Florida’s Boaters for Trump, said the flotillas started as a way for Trump supporters to get the electric feeling of a Trump rally when the events were canceled because of the coronavirus pandemic.

‘We are the silent majority,’ he told the South Florida Sun-Sentinel. 

‘We don’t make a spectacle of ourselves normally to get attention, but there are a lot of people like me around the country.’

Supporters of Trump’s opponent in the November election, Joe Biden, also held their own rallies in boats, cars and motorbikes on Sunday, nicknamed ‘Ridin’ with Biden’. 

Supporters of Joe Biden at West Palm Beach, Florida, on Sunday rallying for his campaign

Supporters of Joe Biden at West Palm Beach, Florida, on Sunday rallying for his campaign

Supporters of Joe Biden at West Palm Beach, Florida, on Sunday rallying for his campaign

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