Biden, 82, sat at an eight-person table with Finnegan, who turns 25 next week, his daughter Ashley Biden, and former first lady Jill Biden.

Biden, 82, sat at an eight-person table with Finnegan, who turns 25 next week, his daughter Ashley Biden, and former first lady Jill Biden.

Former President Joe Biden was photographed smiling — and with an official-looking slip of paper peeking out of his sport jacket — Thursday night at a pre-birthday dinner in Philadelphia for his granddaughter Finnegan Biden after sporting a large gash on his head from skin cancer surgery.

Biden, 82, sat at an eight-person table with Finnegan, who turns 25 next week, his daughter Ashley Biden, 44, and former first lady Jill Biden, 74, and a troupe of four young guests.

The photos show a birthday cake for Finnegan and a small memo protruding from her grandfather’s coat jacket, though the photo quality does not allow viewers to read it.

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Joe Biden at a family dinner.
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Former President Joe Biden joined his granddaughter Finnegan Biden’s pre-birthday dinner.
Ashley Biden/Instagram
As president, Biden frequently flashed similar specials-menu-sized pieces of paper in public, revealing agendas, prepared statements and notes to help him conduct meetings — or even press conferences.

“Happy Birthday Dinner for our girl. Finnegan James Biden!” Ashley Biden wrote in an Instagram story.

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“Go Birds!” the former first daughter wrote, with an emoji for the Philadelphia Eagles.

“May all your wishes come true,” she added.

The photos show a birthday cake for Finnegan and a piece of paper protruding from her grandfather’s coat jacket, though the photo quality does not allow viewers to read it.

Joe Biden at dinner with Jill Biden and another man.
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Biden was shown schmoozing with Philadelphia restaurant-goers during the meal.
Ashley Biden/Instagram
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As president, Biden frequently flashed similar specials-menu-sized pieces of paper in public, revealing agendas or notes on meeting participants.

Former first son Hunter Biden, 55, did not appear to be present at his daughter’s gathering.

The meal was held at Borromini, a new Italian restaurant near Rittenhouse Square opened last month by Stephen Starr, who operates other popular spots in Philadelphia and Washington.

Joe Biden at the dinner with an official-looking slip of paper peeking out of his sport jacket.
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Joe Biden at the dinner with an official-looking slip of paper peeking out of his sport jacket.
Ashley Biden/Instagram
President Biden holding press conference briefing notes.
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Biden holding notes during a press conference at the White House, April 26, 2023.
Getty Images
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President Biden at a funeral.
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Biden appeared in good spirits after he had skin cancer removed from his head.
William Bretzger-Delaware News Journal / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Joe Biden shaking hands with a woman.
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A large gash attracted public concern Thursday.
Instagram/@fredkarger
Biden’s first sit-down restaurant meal as president in 2021 was at Starr’s Le Diplomate about a mile north of the White House, where the commander in chief, joined by Vice President Kamala Harris, surprised waiters with a humble order of pancakes.

Biden was forced to drop his bid for re-election last year by fellow Democrats who questioned his mental acuity, and the alleged coverup of his health woes has remained a topic of public interest as the subject of a House Oversight Committee investigation.

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Biden revealed in May he was suffering from stage four prostate cancer that had spread to his bones, stunning medical experts because of the top-notch medical care that had been free of charge to him while leading the country.

That disclosure came two days before the release of a highly promoted book by Jake Tapper and Alex Thompson on the alleged coverup of Biden’s mental decline, prompting skeptics to question whether the timing was strategic to blunt negative news.