Donald Trump celebrates his 73rd birthday today.

As with most of his presidency so far, he marks his birthday fighting controversies on several fronts, notably over comments he made in an interview with ABC that he would take intelligence on a political opponent offered by a foreign power rather than report it to the FBI.

Mr Trump was marking his birthday today in low-key style, holding meetings with cabinet members and treating himself to an interview with Fox and Friends. The presenters on his favourite cable news show are guaranteed to give him an uncritical and flattering hearing, ensuring a warm, fuzzy birthday feeling for the 45th president of the United States

While the president has celebrated his past two birthdays in office in restrained fashion – preferring to deflect attention towards the US Army’s anniversary instead, with uncharacteristic modesty - The Donald once partied far more extravagantly in his days as a billionaire real estate tycoon and the toast of 1980s New York.

His 42nd birthday in 1988, for instance, featured a “15-foot spaceship zooming from the stage to hover amid smoke and flashing lasers above the birthday boy and his wife Ivana”, according to The Washington Post, as well as magicians, dancers performing to Michael Jackson’s “Bad” and congratulatory telegrams read out by celebrities including Liza Minnelli and Billy Crystal.

20 pictures that sum up President Trump's visit Show all 20 1 /20 20 pictures that sum up President Trump's visit 20 pictures that sum up President Trump's visit An awkward greeting As the Queen welcomed Trump to Buckingham Palace, he shared an awkward handshake with her. PA 20 pictures that sum up President Trump's visit "Oi Trump" Essex teenager Ollie Nancarrow mowed this message to Trump in a field near Stansted airport, in order that the president would be forced to see it as he came in to land. BornEco 20 pictures that sum up President Trump's visit A warm welcome Protesters gesture at the helicopter carrying the president as he arrives at Buckingham Palace on the first day of his visit. Getty 20 pictures that sum up President Trump's visit Inspecting the guard After arriving at Buckingham Palace, President Trump inspected an honour guard with Prince Charles. AP 20 pictures that sum up President Trump's visit Khan hits back After the president insulted Sadiq Khan, the London mayor, over Twitter as he landed in Britain, Khan hit back in this video released by Elle. PA 20 pictures that sum up President Trump's visit Mild reception on the Mall The Mall, the road leading to Buckingham Palace, was lacking in pomp as Trump arrived after his visit to Westminster Abbey, only a very small crowd turned out to see the spectacle. Reuters 20 pictures that sum up President Trump's visit Toast with the Queen The president shared a toast with the Queen at the state banquet on his first night in Britain. Reuters 20 pictures that sum up President Trump's visit Creepy kids This picture of Ivanka Trump and husband Jared Kushner, shared to Ivanka's Instagram, was described variously as "terrifying", like "nightmares" and "scarier than the shining." Getty 20 pictures that sum up President Trump's visit Rolling out the red carpet A red carpet was rolled out for the president's arrival to 10 Downing Street. Reuters 20 pictures that sum up President Trump's visit Meeting with May President Trump met with Prime Minister Theresa May on the second day of his visit. They did not speak privately but in a boardroom meeting. Reuters 20 pictures that sum up President Trump's visit Spouses get along First Lady Melania Trump and husband of the prime minister Philip May attended a garden party for the families of Downing Street staff while the two leaders were in their meeting. Getty 20 pictures that sum up President Trump's visit Baby blimp flies again The famous Trump baby blimp made a return in the protests against the president's visit, after first appearing in July last year. EPA 20 pictures that sum up President Trump's visit Crowd gathers A large crowd of protesters gathered in Trafalgar Square in London to protest the president's visit. Notable protesters included a man selling Donald Trump toilet paper and a man dressed as Vladimir Putin controlling a Trump puppet. PA 20 pictures that sum up President Trump's visit Protesters mix and mingle Supporters of the president and protesters of his visit clashed by Parliament Square on the second day of Trump's visit, with some supporters being hit by milkshakes. Reuters 20 pictures that sum up President Trump's visit Toilet Trump A 20ft statue of Trump tweeting while sitting on a golden toilet was placed in Trafalgar Square as protesters gather on the second day of the president's visit. Tom Batchelor / The Independent 20 pictures that sum up President Trump's visit Corbyn speaks In an address to protesters, Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn accused the president of spreading "hatred" and "racism" and expressed disappointment that Sadiq Khan had "been attacked in the way he was." PA 20 pictures that sum up President Trump's visit Churchill hat During his interview with the president on Good Morning Britain, Piers Morgan gave Trump a hat of a style favoured by Winston Churchill, one of Trump's heroes. ITV 20 pictures that sum up President Trump's visit Bus stop baby Activists Special Patrol Group installed this poster in to several bus stops around Portsmouth ahead of the president's arrival for D-Day commemorations PA 20 pictures that sum up President Trump's visit Fly-past with the queen President Trump watched the Red Arrows fly-past with the Queen at an event in Portsmouth to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the D-Day landings AFP/Getty 20 pictures that sum up President Trump's visit Commemoration speech The president gave a speech at an event to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the D-Day landings. Along with Trump, the prime minister and the royal family, French president Emmanuel Macron and 300 Second World War veterans were in attendance. AFP/Getty

In 1993, when he turned 47, Mr Trump was treated to a “Renaissance Man” party by his second wife Marla Maples. He was depicted as a king brandishing a sword on the invitations while the Crystal Ballroom of his Castle casino (now the Golden Nugget) in Atlantic City, New Jersey, was decked out with banners depicting his “kingdoms”, namely his casinos and resorts. Guests were promised dancing and live jousting.

An event ghastlier invitation a year later indicates the party – held at the same venue – was Tarzan-themed and billed Trump as “Lord of the Financial Jungle”.

For his 50th in 1996, he was presented with a chocolate cake decorated with a portrait of himself as Superman, a dollar sign emblazoned on the Man of Steel’s chest in place of the signature “S” as he flew past Trump Organisation properties dotting the Big Apple skyline. Waiters in white gloves served champagne and strawberries while a violin trio greeted guests at the door of Trump Tower.

These events were attended by such luminaries as Pamela Anderson in 2005 and Carmen Electra in 2007, star guest at the Taj Mahal in Atlantic City.

His first birthday in the Oval Office was marred by a shooting at a Republican congressional baseball game in Virginia in which House majority whip Steve Scalise and three others were injured. But a cult in India, the Hindu Sena, did throw a party in his honour, hailing him, as is their belief, as “the saviour of humanity” and a “messiah against Islamic terror”.

Last year he had a cake three days early with the government of Singapore while in town for his summit with Kim Jong-un, receiving congratulatory tweets from senior members of his administration like vice president Mike Pence and secretary of state Mike Pompeo.

Don Jr also gave him a shout-out on Fox and Friends, saying: “You’re getting absolutely no presents as I figured five grandchildren was enough.”

President Trump was the oldest man to take office at 70 years and 220 days when he was inaugurated in January 2017. Only Ronald Reagan at 69 and William Henry Harrison, 68, come close, with the vast majority of American presidents aged between 50 and 59. As for the youngest, Theodore Roosevelt was 42 when he first entered the Oval Office in 1901, John F Kennedy was 43, Ulysses S Grant and Bill Clinton were both 46 and Barack Obama was 47.

Of these, several have celebrated their birthdays in high style. Franklin D Roosevelt, for instance, held a toga party on 30 January 1934 to mark his 52nd.

First lady Nancy Reagan surprised her husband Ronald at the podium on 4 February 1983 while he was addressing reporters on defence spending to present him with a cake, two days before he turned 72. The assembled press corps immediately broke out into a chorus of “Happy Birthday”.

But JFK being serenaded by Marilyn Monroe at Madison Square Garden on 19 May 1962 remains the benchmark by which all such occasions are judged.