Psaki defends Obama's 500-person 60th birthday party when asked if it could ...

The White House defended on Monday Barack Obama's upcoming 500-person 60th birthday party despite the rise in Delta variant and breakthrough cases – and after announcing President Joe Biden will not attend.

'I would note first that former President Obama has been a huge advocate of individuals getting vaccinated,' White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki dodged when asked about her former boss' planned event.

Obama is holding a party at his Martha's Vineyard mansion with a guest list of 500 as he rings in his 60s. The former president has come under fire for his plans despite a nationwide rise in COVID cases.

All guests will have to be COVID tested and vaccinated and the party will be held outdoors on the Obama's $12 billion 30-acre waterfront property.

Psaki claims that while new mask mandates require vaccinated people wear masks when indoors, the upcoming event is reportedly entirely outside.

'What CDC has provided guidance on is for indoor settings in high or substantial high zones of COVID cases. This event according to all the public reporting is outdoors and in a moderate zone,' she explained to Fox News reporter Peter Doocey at the White House briefing on Monday.

Doocey pushed, claimed the event could lead to a superspreader considering the rise in Delta variant cases and breakthrough cases in vaccinated individuals.

'The guidance is about what steps people can take when they are in public settings, indoor settings specifically was the new guidance, to keep themselves and others safe,'Psaki reiterated. 'In terms of what protocols they are taking, I would refer you to them, and I'm sure they can give you more detail.'

The Fox News reporter asked if this would send the wrong message to Americans that they should now hold their own massive parties since Obama is doing so.

'We certainly advise everyone to follow public health guidelines, which, I know, the former president – who is a huge advocate of getting vaccinated, of following the guidance of public health experts – would certainly advocate for himself as well,' she concluded.

Psaki, who previously worked for Obama before joining Biden's administration, said she would refer people 'to the team that's working for my former boss to give you more specifics of what protocols are in place.'

Despite the massive guest list, Obama's former vice president will not be attending the birthday bash. 

A White House official told The Hill, according to a Monday report, that the president is 'unable to attend this weekend.'

'He looks forward to catching up with former President Obama soon and properly welcoming him into the over 60 club,' the official said.

Obama turns 60 on Wednesday and is expected to celebrate over the weekend. On Friday Biden is traveling to Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, where he has a holiday home.

The party is also being planned as COVID cases continue to surge nationwide, with the Delta variant accounting for more than 80 percent of all new infections. 

A recent CDC study threatens to undermine the safety of the COVID protocols in place, however.

Three quarters of the coronavirus infections in a recent Massachusetts outbreak on Cape Cod were found to have been in people who are already fully vaccinated, the agency revealed at the end of July.