Happy Birthday, Malia Obama! First Daughter Turns 21 on Fourth of July

Barack Obama and his daughter Malia share a tender hug as she celebrated her 18th birthday.
Photo by Aude Guerrucci-Pool / Getty Images

President Obama took to social media to wish his and first lady Michelle Obama's oldest daughter happy birthday. 

America's wasn't the only birthday celebrated on the Fourth of July, as first daughter Malia Obama turned 21 on Thursday.

Former President Barack Obama took to social media to wish his and first lady Michelle Obama's oldest daughter happy birthday. 

"Happy Fourth of July, everybody! This is always a great day in the Obama family: a chance to celebrate America — and Malia's birthday, too," Obama wrote on Twitter. "Hope all of you are able to get some time with friends, family, and fireworks."

Malia enrolled at Harvard University in 2017. That same year, her father spoke of the bittersweet moment of dropping her off to begin her college career.

"I was proud that I did not cry in front of her," the president said. "But on the way back, the Secret Service was off looking straight ahead, pretending they weren't hearing me as I sniffled and blew my nose. It was rough."

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