Trump’s state dinner for France sounds as if it’s shaping up to be an intimate soiree

Washington Post ^ | 3/14/2018 | Emily Heil

[GoldenState_Rose]

It’s time for the Big Event, the administration’s first state dinner of its own, in honor of French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife, Brigitte Macron.

And this one, reportedly slated for April 24, comes with a higher anticipation factor than usual — the Trumps are the first occupants since Calvin Coolidge to hold off so long in hosting a foreign leader for a state visit, according to the White House Historical Association.

So what to expect?

Size: We hear that the dinner will probably be held in the State Dining Room, one of the smallest venues on White House grounds for such events. The size of the room dictates a guest list of fewer than 140. That’s a cozier space than the East Room...

Guest list: The relatively limited number of guests will keep the number of random invitees to a minimum (like at the Obamas’ 2014 state dinner for France when we asked actress/writer Mindy Kaling about her connection to the country, and her answer was, “Um … I like French food?”).

Menu: Trump seems to like his menus “America first” — like the dinner for the Chinese president that, according to the pool report, included familiar dishes like Caesar salad, Dover sole or New York strips, herb-roasted or whipped potatoes and roasted root vegetables. And dessert? Chocolate cake.

FLOTUS’s big fashion moment: The first lady’s gown is one of a state dinner’s big moments.

Gaffe potential: No doubt the organizers are mindful of the cautionary tale of the Obamas’ first state dinner, when now-notorious gate-crashers Tareq and Michaele Salahi (now Michaele Schon) managed to talk their way past Secret Service to mingle with guests and even have their photo snapped with POTUS, a mistake that led to congressional hearings and near-endless jokes by late-night comedians.

[Navy Patriot]

Trump’s state dinner for France sounds as if it’s shaping up to be an intimate soiree

French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife, Brigitte Macron will bring the very best French whine.

[bigbob]

I’d serve him Macron and Cheese.

[A Formerly Proud Canadian]

Will they be serving prunes for Mme. Macron? Ya know, at her age, it helps keep one regular.

[Billthedrill]

So serve them French fries. International cuisine is not that hard.

[GoldenState_Rose]

so serve them french fries

😄

[Kickass Conservative]

Macron will be seated at the Children’s Table next to POTUS Trump’s Grandchildren.

Macron’s Wife will be seated next to POTUS Trump at the Adult Table.

Not sure if they booked Stormy Daniels for the Entertainment though.

[JudgemAll]

Ok, he is meeting a subject of the EU. Let us stop pretending there is such a thing as a French equal to Trump prez anymore

[JudgemAll]

And white flag chocolate Macarons lol

[Albion Wilde]

The Trumps have hosted yuge galas at Mar-a-Lago for many years. All the nervous tittering in the press that he’s somehow incapable of hosting a state dinner? Wilfull blindness.

[Liz]

This exquisite ice cream concoction would be nice served beside the American Flag Cake.

FLAVORS OF FRANCE DESSERT
Lemon Pistachio ice cream made with ingredients from the South of France, complemented by
other Provençal accents--petit madeleines and crunchy thyme-infused meringues----both cookies
renowned in French literature and in Parisian patissieres.

[Liz]

A perfect ending to the state dinner----
Jasper Johns' iconic three-tiered flag painting
turned into a layer cake.

[Liz]

ping

[GoldenState_Rose]

Sounds scrumptious! :)

[GoldenState_Rose]

You're right and the author actually did admit as much but I did not include it in the excerpt. The Macrons are such a quirky couple and I find the speculation amusing. :)

President Trump and first lady Melania Trump have done all the warm-up socializing: They’ve hosted dinners for members of Congress and balls for visiting governors — they’ve even welcomed foreign heads of states to their tables and been the guests of honor at official state dinners in Asia....

For clues of what to expect, look to the more formal events they’ve hosted, which so far has included the dinner at Mar-a-Lago in April for Chinese President Xi Jinping and his wife or the two black-tie dinners for the nation’s governors at the White House. So far, the mood has been intimate and the tone classic, with traditional menus, music by military bands and safely elegant fashion choices by the first lady.

[Albion Wilde]

I guess he’s growing on them a little. They are starting to thaw.