Joe Biden joked it was “difficult turning 60” as he marked his 81st birthday with a jibe at US media headlines expressing concerns about the president’s age.

Mr Biden did a quick jog to reach a podium on the south lawn of the White House where he was presiding over the annual tradition of pardoning two turkeys ahead of Thanksgiving.

Standing at the lectern, he said he was pleased to be pardoning white-feathered Liberty and Bell, calling them “honoured guests”.

“By the way it’s my birthday today,” he said, tripping over his words as he joked that the birds “actually sang birthday to me”.

“I just want you to know it’s difficult turning 60,” he added with a chuckle.

It came after recent unflattering coverage about Mr Biden’s age and concerns about his mental and physical stamina as he seeks re-election in 2024.

The Wall Street Journal issued an excoriating editorial ahead of the president’s birthday, highlighting his “age and obvious decline” and calling his decision to run again “an act of profound selfishness”.