Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and his partner Jodie Haydon arrived at the White House on Wednesday evening for a subdued state dinner with President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden.
Jill wore a blush dress with silver sequins in a floral pattern over it, beaded by designer Reem Acra, while Haydon wore a smoke-colored, sparkly ball gown.
The roughly 325-strong guest list lacked star power – only actor John Leguizamo and powerhouse producer Jeffrey Katzenberg, who is advising Biden’s re-election campaign – represented Hollywood.
A planned appearance by the B-52 had been canceled due to poor optics from White House guests who came to Love Shack in the midst of war in the Middle East.
Hunter Biden – who has attended two other White House state dinners – skipped Wednesday night’s affair, but his children Naomi, husband Peter Neal, Finnegan and Maisy were all there.
“Everything,” Maisy replied when asked her what she was most looking forward to.
President Joe Biden raises a toast to Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese at the state dinner
President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden (right) welcome Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and his partner Jodie Haydon (left) to the Australian state dinner in the North Portico of the White House on Wednesday
Grandkids galore: Hunter Biden’s children Finnegan and Maisy Biden (left) and Naomi Biden with husband Peter Neal (right) arrive at the state dinner with Australia on Wednesday evening
President Joe Biden clinks glasses with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese
In the tent setup on the South Lawn of the White House for the state dinner
Amb. Caroline Kennedy, the current U.S. ambassador to Australia, streamed past reporters as she arrived for dinner without answering questions about her cousin Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s independent presidential bid against Biden.
When Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg and his husband Chasten arrived for dinner, Chasten said he was very excited to have the “babysitter on duty” since the couple are fathers of twins.
Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo brought her son Tommy Moffit as a guest, who eagerly told reporters “Oh no” when asked if it was his first state dinner.
“That’s it,” his mother objected, earning laughter.
Her high school-aged son then explained, “I’m drawn to a lot of things.”
Democratic Senator Ron Wyden said it was appropriate for the White House to tone down the dinner, telling reporters that the war between Israel and Hamas “is very much on our minds.”
“My parents fled the Nazis in the 1930s. Everyone came out. We lost family on Kristallnacht and in Theresienstadt. And that’s really on our minds tonight and I just want to commend the president and the first lady because under normal circumstances we would have loved to have the music,” the Oregon lawmaker said. “That was a good call.”
U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) speaks with actor John Leguizamo during the state dinner
Guests at the state dinner
White House Chief of Staff Jeff Zients and White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre attend the state dinner
Actors John Leguizamo and Justine Leguizamo arrive at a state dinner honoring Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Jodie Haydon. Leguizamo was one of the few Hollywood representatives at the affair on Wednesday evening
Senator Ron Wyden (right) and his wife Nancy (left) arrive at the state dinner at the White House on Wednesday. Wyden said it was appropriate to tone down the dinner because of the war in the Middle East
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg (left) and his husband Chasten Buttigieg (right) arrive at the state dinner on Wednesday. Chasten said he was most excited about having the “babysitter on duty” since the couple are fathers of twins
Australian singer Kid Laroi (right) arrives with Sloane Howard (left) for the state dinner at the White House on Wednesday evening
Caroline Kennedy, U.S. ambassador to Australia, remained tight-lipped about her cousin Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s independent presidential bid against President Joe Biden
The dinner’s biggest star, actor Leguizamo, said he would join Biden’s campaign to help the 80-year-old president win re-election next year.
“Oh yeah, definitely. “It has to be done,” Leguizamo said.
Leguizamo answered in the affirmative when asked whether Biden would be well received by Latino voters, a group of voters that former President Donald Trump tried to trick.
“Yes I think so. “I think he’s doing the right thing by hiring Latin American consultants and talking to Latin American experts to tell him how to address us and making the effort,” the actor replied. “If you make the effort, we’ll be there, but you have to make the effort. “I think he does all that – he and Kamala Harris too.”
Katzenberg was joined by other top Democratic donors, including Mark Ein, Joyce Aboussie, Orin Kramer, Donald Sussman and Henry Laufer.
The Bidens had only three Republican lawmakers on the guest list: Senators Jim Risch and John Thune and Texas Rep. Michael McCaul.
Other Democrats invited included Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, who did not pass through the arrivals entrance, as well as Senators Tim Kaine and Ben Cardin and Representatives Gregory Meeks, Jim Himes and Adam Smith.
Australian singer James Keogh (left), who performs under the name Vance Joy, and Selen Us (right) pose as they arrive at a state dinner
John Kerry (center), the US President’s Special Envoy for Climate, poses with daughters Vanessa Kerry (left) and Alexandra Kerry (right)
DreamWorks Animation CEO Jeffrey Katzenberg (left) and Sujay Jaswa (right) arrive at a state dinner. Katzenberg is advising Biden’s re-election campaign
The Bidens officially welcomed Albanese and his partner to the White House on Wednesday morning.
The two men held a meeting in the Oval Office and a joint press conference. Jill Biden and Haydon visited the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Clinical Center.
The state dinner, which had been planned for months, was toned down from its original plan.
Jill Biden rejected the idea of having the B-52 perform, citing violence in the world. Instead, the band members will attend the event as guests. The President’s Marine Band and the Army and Air Force Strolling Strings will perform and provide instrumental music for the evening.
Menu for the Australian state dinner on Wednesday
First course:
Farro and Roasted Beet Salad
Popped sorghum, herb vinaigrette
Butternut squash soup
Smoked paprika, candied pumpkin seeds
Main course:
Sarsaparilla Braised Ribs
Young carrots glazed with sorghum
Brussels sprouts, celery root puree, carrot jus
Dessert:
Hazelnut chocolate mousse cake
Crème Fraîche ice cream
Wine:
Windracer Chardonnay “Alexander Mountain” 2019
Sequel Syrah Columbia Valley 2019
Argyle Extended Tirage Brut 2012
“We are now in a time when so many are facing grief and pain, so we have made some adjustments to the entertainment portion of the evening,” she said at a press preview of the dinner on Tuesday.
According to the White House, between 325 and 350 guests attended the evening event. It took place in a magnificent tent on the South Lawn of the White House.
The dinner combined the best of both nations, both in food and seasons.
Event designer Bryan Rafanelli brought together the seasons of fall, currently taking place in the United States, and spring, taking place in Australia, in his decorations and surroundings.
The decor is spring-like with a heavy emphasis on flowers, while the menu consists of seasonal fall dishes: farro and roasted beet salad, butternut squash soup, sarsaparilla-braised ribs, and for dessert, hazelnut chocolate mousse cake with crème fraîche ice cream.
Ice cream is President Biden’s favorite dessert and is often served at state dinners.
“It makes him happy,” said White House Social Affairs Secretary Carlos Elizondo.
Katie Button, the co-founder of Asheville, North Carolina’s Cúrate, is the guest chef who designed the menu.
“We wanted to welcome guests from Australia to the United States with the warmth and bounty of fall,” Button said.
Color dominates. Soft lavender makes up one tablecloth while colorful sequins dominate another. Huge bouquets of pink, yellow, blue and red flowers stand in the middle of the tables. Apples, grapes, berries and pears are part of the decoration.
The flowers represent both countries: roses and delphiniums for the United States and eucalyptus for Australia.
The backdrop of the dinner will be a canvas of American monarch butterflies and Australian Cairns birdwing butterflies.
US President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden wave from the south portico along with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Ms Jodie Haydon
With the Washington Monument in the background, President Joe Biden and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese stand on stage as the Australian and American national anthems are played
US President Joe Biden (right) and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese (left) hold a press conference in the Rose Garden of the White House
Color is the theme of the decoration, with large bouquets of flowers dominating the table setting
Australia is a key US ally in the Pacific and the visit focused on China’s influence in that region. Biden said in a speech in the Oval Office that the two leaders would also discuss how they “stand with Israel in the wake of Hamas’ horrific terrorist attack.”
Albanese and Haydon joined the Bidens for a private dinner at the White House on Tuesday evening. The two couples exchanged gifts, signed the guestbook and had dinner together at the residence.
The Bidens gave Albanese an antique desk designed in 1886 by an American furniture company in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
On the side wall there was an inscription framed in gold to commemorate the official visit.
President Biden gifted Albanese a custom-made signature turntable from a family-run American audio manufacturer. Albanese is a big fan of records.
Jill Biden gave Haydon a small green enamel and diamond necklace designed and handmade by an American jeweler.
Albanese gave Biden “Fire Flower 8,” a painting by Australian artist Katherine Boland. Haydon gave Jill Biden a silver leaf brooch by jewelry designer Shimara Carlow and a silk scarf designed by Katarra Butler Napaltjarri.
Albanese will visit China, Australia’s largest trading partner and biggest buyer of iron ore, on November 4. He will be the first Australian prime minister to visit China in seven years and he will meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping
His meeting with Xi comes before a possible meeting between Biden and Xi.
“The president has said many times that it is incredibly important for Australia and its relationship with China to get through this.” The first question: There is no question in my mind that the challenges and opportunities in the relationship with the [People’s Republic of China] is on the agenda tomorrow. “No question,” White House spokesman John Kirby said Tuesday.
The president could sit down with Xi on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Summit in San Francisco next month.
“No such meeting has been arranged, but it is a possibility,” Biden told reporters earlier this month.
Biden has focused heavily on the Indo-Pacific region during his presidency.
A menu and a napkin at a dinner
Dinner will be in a tent on the South Lawn
Color dominates the decor on the tables, while the menu reflects seasonal dishes
Wednesday marks the Bidens’ fourth state dinner since becoming president, and two others – for South Korea and India – also focused on the Indo-Pacific. The first state dinner was for France.
President Biden welcomed Albanese to the White House after promising a state visit in return for having to abandon a stop in Australia earlier this year to focus on debt limit negotiations in Washington.
The president was scheduled to travel to Sydney after a G7 meeting in Japan in May, but changed his plans to continue talks and avoid a U.S. default.