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Inside the lavish state dinner with Australia, the Trumps' second such formal evening at the White House
Inside the lavish state dinner with Australia, the Trumps' second such formal evening at the White House
Rebecca HarringtonSep 21, 2019, 07:26 IST
Guests attend a state dinner hosted by U.S. President Donald Trump for Australia's Prime Minister Scott Morrison in the Rose Garden of the White House in Washington, U.S., September 20, 2019.REUTERS/Joshua Roberts
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President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump hosted their second state dinner on Friday night, in honor of the prime minister of Australia.
A bevy of DC heavyweights turned out for the event, including Cabinet members, diplomats, one Supreme Court justice, Fox News hosts, CEOs, lawmakers, and a couple minor celebrities.
The menu for the evening featured ravioli, summer vegetables, fish, and apple tart. Musical groups from the US Army, Marine Corps, Navy, and Air Force provided the entrainment.
The White House Rose Garden was transformed for a formal gas lamp-lit dinner for about 200 people on Friday night.
President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump hosted their second state dinner, in honor of Australia's Prime Minister Scott Morrison and his wife Jenny. Their first was for French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte in April 2018.
State dinners are time-honored traditions dictated by specific protocol. They always start with a formal greeting on the White House lawn, then a joint press conference, diplomatic meetings, and end with a lavish dinner for hundreds.
The Trumps greeted the guests of honor, the Morrisons, at the North Portico of the White House. State dinners are meant to highlight diplomatic relations between the two countries, and each detail is selected to show that.
The dress code is formal black tie. The first lady was wearing a $6,000 aqua silk chiffon J. Mendel gown with "bias-cut wave ruffles."
Members of the armed forces were on hand with flags and instruments to participate in the formal welcoming ceremonies, seen here in the Grand Foyer of the White House.
The guests started arriving for the evening. Vice President Mike Pence and second lady Karen Pence wore matching black.
Counselor to the president Kellyanne Conway attended the evening solo without her husband George Conway, who is a frequent critic of Trump. She was wearing a $798 black feather-embellished Mac Duggal gown.
Golfer Greg Norman and his wife Kirsten Kutner were in attendance. When a reporter asked about people criticizing how often Trump golfs, Norman said, "Nobody can golf too much."
US Attorney General William Barr and his wife Christine smiled for the cameras.
Rudy Giuliani, Trump's personal lawyer, attended the state dinner with date Maria Ryan. He is currently in the middle of a messy divorce with his third wife.
Other notable attendees included Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, Australian chef Curtis Stone, Fox News hosts Lou Dobbs and Maria Bartiromo, CEO of Fox Corporation Lachlan Murdoch, and Chick-fil-A CEO Dan Cathy.
Once everyone was gathered in the Rose Garden, Trump and Morrison both gave toasts highlighting the US and Australia's 101-year relationship, and the guests tucked into dinner.
The menu for the evening featured ravioli, summer vegetables, fish, and apple tart.
Full Menu First Course Sunchoke Ravioli Reggiano Cream Shaved Summer Vegetables
Main Course Dover Sole with Parsley Crisps Zucchini Squash Blossoms Fennel Mousseline Baby Garlic Rouille
Dessert Lady Apple Tart Calvados Ice Cream
Wines
Spring Mountain Sauvignon Blanc 2017
Argyle Pinot Noir "Reserve" 2016
J Demi-Sec NV
This is only the second state dinner held in the Rose Garden. Former President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama hosted one for Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany and her husband in 2011.
Musical groups from the US Army, Marine Corps, Navy, and Air Force provided the entrainment, which the first lady's office said was the largest gathering of military musicians in White House history.
With the temperature around 69 degrees Fahrenheit, it looked like a lovely evening for a state dinner in the White House Rose Garden.
