All the Details of President Joe Biden's First State Dinner at the White House
President Joe Biden is hosting the first state dinner of his administration at the White House tonight, welcoming French president Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte. The first state dinner is taking place two years into his administration due to COVID delays.
"This dinner was inspired by the shared colors of our flags," First Lady Jill Biden shared during a media preview of the evening. "And our common values: liberty and democracy, equality and fellowship. These form the bedrock upon which our enduring friendship was built." On the tables, the floral arrangements will feature red roses, blue delphiniums, and white irises.
The menu will feature American and French cuisines—including lobster, delicata squash ravioli, and crème fraîche ice cream. The American-made wines will be served in French-made wine glasses. The dinner, Dr. Biden said, is "an expression of welcome and friendship — a way to connect through a language that transcends words. And as each dish comes to the table, so, too, does the meaning behind it."
"Our hope is that the end result will be a night that balances the beauty of our friendship with the seriousness of our purpose," Dr. Biden said. "And we hope that French citizens everywhere feel the warmth of our welcome."
Ahead of the dinner, the Bidens welcomed the Macrons to the White House, where they exchanged gifts. Per CNN, Macron gifted Biden with a Chirsofle centerpiece, and a vinyl soundtrack from the film A Man and a Woman (1966)—the Bidens watched the film during their first date. First Lady Jill Biden was gifted with a copy of Madame Bovary, a collection of Albert Camus essays, and "two gifts from the Elysee Palace gift shop, a watch from watchmaker LIP and a jumper from the French brand Saint James."
The black tie dinner, which will take place in a tent on the South Lawn, will feature a performance by Jon Batiste with the U.S. Marine Band.
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