• Former President Barack Obama has scaled back his 500-person 60th birthday party this weekend to a low key celebration with close friends and family 
  • The change, his spokesperson said, is ‘due to the new spread of the Delta variant over the past week’ 
  • Obama faced criticism for deciding to hold the event as the Delta variant surges in the U.S. and the rate of breakthrough cases in vaccination individuals spikes   
  • Jen Psaki on Monday defended Obama’s potential superspreader event
  • When asked if the party would encourage others to hold massive events, Psaki said: ‘We certainly advise everyone to follow public health guidelines’
  • The event was initially intended to include 500 attendees and 200 staff outside at Obama’s $12 million 30-acre Martha’s Vineyard waterfront mansion