US President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden welcomed French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte Macron on Thursday for a state dinner at the White House, the first of Mr Biden's presidency.
More than 300 guests attended the gathering. They including government officials, business executives and celebrities Chrissy Teigen and her husband John Legend, television host and comedian Stephen Colbert, actresses Julia Louis-Dreyfus and Jennifer Garner and Vogue editor Anna Wintour.
Guests were also treated to a performance by Grammy-winning musician Jon Batiste.
The dinner menu included caviar, butter-poached lobster from Maine and orange chiffon cake with creme fraiche ice cream for dessert.
The highly anticipated dinner was just a part of a whirlwind trip for the French leader, who is trying to secure Europe’s energy future amid the war in Ukraine while also working to end the conflict, and to shore up trade relations with the US, which are being threatened by the Inflation Reduction Act.
Mr Biden welcomed his French counterpart to the White House on Thursday morning in an elaborate ceremony fit for America's oldest ally.
“Our history has been shaped by the courage of the women and men who crossed the Atlantic, kindness within their hearts, the flame of liberty — today that flame burns more brightly than ever and the alliance between our two nations remains essential to our mutual defence,” said Mr Biden.
The two leaders stressed the strength and enduring nature of their countries' centuries-old relationship in the face of challenging times.
“It is our shared destiny to respond to those challenges together,” said Mr Macron. “True to our history, clear sighted about our world and determined to generate hope. Long live the friendship between the United States and France.”
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President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden with French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte Macron talk on the Blue Room Balcony during a State Arrival Ceremony on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington. AP -
French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte Macron arrive at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland. AFP -
Mr Macron is in Washington to discuss a series of issues with his US counterpart Joe Biden, including aligning policy on Russia's invasion of Ukraine and easing trade disagreements. AFP -
The Macrons are presented with flowers upon their arrival. AFP -
Mr Biden and Mr Macron depart the Fiola Mare restaurant in Washington. Bloomberg -
Mr Biden will welcome Mr Macron for the first White House state dinner in more than three years. Bloomberg -
Ms Biden and Ms Macron are hit by a cold blustery wind as they exit Fiola Mare. Reuters -
Fiola Mare is a high-end seafood restaurant in Washington near the White House. AP -
Mr Biden, Mr Macron, US first lady Jill Biden and Ms Macron. Photo: @POTUS / Twitter -
Mr Macron greets guests after speaking during a reception honouring the French community in the US at the French embassy in Washington. AFP -
Mr Macron is presented with a baguette during the reception. AFP -
Mr Macron arrives to award the Legion d'Honneur to veterans of the Second World War at the French embassy. AFP -
Mr Macron awards Benjamin Portaro with the Legion d'Honneur. Mr Portaro was a prisoner of war in Europe during the Second World War. AFP -
Veteran Carl Felton said that after returning home from the war, he had a hard time ringing a doorbell. AFP -
George Idelson bravely fought in the Battle of the Bulge. AFP -
Mr Macron embraces veteran Buddy Reynolds after awarding him the Legion d'Honneur. Mr Reynolds, who is 101, attributes his long life to a dedication to 'service for others'. AFP -
Mr Macron applauds Mr Davis, Carl Felton, Mr Idelson, Mr Portaro and Mr Reynolds after awarding them the Legion d'Honneur. AFP -
Mr Macron, Mr Felton and Mr Idelson during a ceremony honouring US soldiers who helped liberate France in the Second World War. Reuters -
Mr Macron arrives for a wreath-laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier while visiting Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia. AFP -
Mr Macron is greeted by a US serviceman at Arlington National Cemetery. AFP -
Mr Macron is joined by his wife at Arlington National Cemetery. AFP -
Both the French and US national anthems are played during the ceremony. AP -
Mr Macron and Ms Macron visit the tomb of French-American military engineer Pierre Charles L'Enfant at Arlington National Cemetery. AFP -
Ms Macron places white roses on L'Enfant's tomb. AFP -
Mr Macron pauses after laying a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. AP -
Mr Macron arrives for a meeting on co-operation and research on civil nuclear energy at the French ambassador's residence in Washington. AFP -
Ms Macron, a former educator, visits pupils at the Duke Ellington School of the Arts in Washington. AFP -
Ms Macron takes time to speak with pupils during the visit. AFP -
Ms Macron formerly taught literature, Latin and French. AFP -
Ms Macron watches a performance during her visit. AFP -
Ms Macron poses for a photo with pupils. AFP -
Mr Macron speaks during a working lunch on climate and biodiversity issues with US Climate Envoy John Kerry, members of Congress and key US stakeholders on climate at the Library of Congress in Washington. AFP -
Mr Macron speaks during the environment-focused event. AFP -
From left, French Minister for Economy, Finance, Industry and Digital Security Bruno Le Maire; Mr Macron; US Vice President Kamala Harris; and National Security Adviser to the Vice President Phil Gordon during a meeting at Nasa headquarters to highlight space co-operation. EPA -
Mr Macron meets Ms Harris to highlight space co-operation between France and the US. EPA -
French astronaut Sophie Adenot listens to Mr Macron and Ms Harris speak during a meeting on French-US space co-operation. AFP -
French aerospace engineer, pilot and European Space Agency astronaut Thomas Pesquet was also at the meeting. AFP -
A French flag flies alongside the US flag in front of the White House in preparation for this week's state visit by Mr Macron. Reuters -
The French and US flags adorn the Eisenhower Executive Office Building next to the White House. AFP -
A worker hangs French, US and District of Columbia flags for the state visit. AFP -
The three flags can be spotted all over Washington. Reuters
The two met for several hours in the Oval Office to discuss the war in Ukraine, European and global security as well as their shared concern over climate change and the continued commitment to bilateral trade, a joint statement released by the White House said.
On the Middle East, they welcomed the launch of the Negev Forum and the anniversary of the Abraham Accords.
A peek at the state dinner in honour of President Emmanuel Macron — in pictures
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The dinner programme and menu for Thursday evening's State Dinner in honour of French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte. Reuters -
White House Executive Chef Cris Comerford shows calotte of beef, one of the dishes to be offered. EPA -
President Macron and his wife will be hosted by US President Joe Biden and US first lady Jill Biden for the first State Dinner of the Biden presidency. EPA -
Chef Cris Comerford, left, and White House Executive Pastry Chef Susie Morrison, right, show dishes that will be offered. EPA -
The decor of red, white and blue reflects the colours of both the US and France. EPA -
Ms Biden speaks to the media about the upcoming meal. EPA -
From Maine lobster to California wines, President Biden will showcase US flavours at the dinner. EPA -
An example of the table setting and floral arrangement for Thursday evening's State Dinner. EPA -
Calotte of beef and butter poached Maine lobster, two of the dishes that will be offered. EPA -
The dessert will include orange chiffon cake and roasted pears with citrus sauce, along with creme fraiche ice cream. -
Chef Cris Comerford and pastry chef Susie Morrison show the media what they will be dishing out. AP -
Chief Chef Cris Comerford is the first female, the first person of colour, the first Asian and the first Filipino to hold the position. AP -
Susie Morrison presents an orange chiffon cake for dessert. AP -
Calotte of beef. AP Photo -
White House Social Secretary Carlos Elizondo, addressing the media, is the first Hispanic to hold his position. AP -
An intimate look at Thursday evening's table. AP -
An aide lights candles for a media preview for the State Dinner in the State Dining Room of the White House in Washington. AP -
Butter poached Maine lobster, beef with shallot marmalade, American artisanal cheeses, and an orange chiffon cake for desert. AP -
All the wines to be served with dinner are from California. AP -
A table setting in the State Dining Room. AP -
Musician Jon Batiste is to perform at the State Dinner, highlighting long-standing ties between the US and France. AP
The leaders also urged Lebanon to “elect a president and advance critical reforms”.
Speaking to reporters, both leaders stressed the importance of the roles the other played in the historic maritime deal between Lebanon and Israel, with Mr Biden calling France the “closer” and Mr Macron saying: “I think most of the work was yours.”
Mr Macron raised his country's concerns with the Inflation Reduction Act, which he had previously called “super aggressive”.
The US President expressed a willingness to look for ways forward, without mentioning any concrete steps.
“There are tweaks that we can make that can fundamentally make it easier for European countries to participate and or be on their own,” Mr Biden said. “That is something that is a matter to be worked out.”
On the war in Ukraine, Mr Macron, who is set to speak with Russian President Vladimir Putin in the coming days, told reporters: “We will never urge Ukrainians to make a compromise which will not be acceptable for them.
“They are so brave and they defend, precisely, their lives, their nation and our principles.”
Mr Biden said he would only be willing to speak to Mr Putin if his Russian counterpart was ready to “look for a away to end the war”.
“He hasn't done that yet,” Mr Biden said.
On Wednesday, the French President toured Nasa headquarters with US Vice President Kamala Harris.
The two leaders discussed their countries’ close collaboration on the James Webb Space Telescope and a host of other galactic endeavours.
“Today we have the occasion to celebrate the co-operation of our two nations in space … today we build on the progress we have made and today we will also identify additional areas of collaboration and co-operation,” said Ms Harris.
Mr Macron said: “Speaking about space is obviously speaking about both science as well as this journey [Ms Harris] mentioned. But this is as well a story about the great co-operation between our two countries and we have done a lot during the past decades together and I think we can [continue to] do a lot.”
The French President and his wife also visited the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery outside of Washington, where they honoured the deep military bonds between the two nations. Ms Macron placed white roses on the tomb of French-American military engineer Pierre Charles L'Enfant.
At the French embassy across the Potomac River, Mr Macron presented the Legion d’Honneur, France’s highest order of merit, to several US veterans of the Second World War, including George Idelson, Buddy Reynolds, Samuel Davis and Carl Felton.
“Paying the price of blood and suffering, you came to fight 80 years ago from the other side of the Atlantic to ensure our shared ideas and face democracy will triumph. For that, France will be eternally grateful,” he said.
The Macrons ended their evening with an intimate dinner with the Bidens at Fiola Mare, an upscale Italian seafood restaurant in Georgetown.
The two leaders were seen eating ice cream for dessert, Mr Biden’s well-known favourite.
Who is White House Executive Chef Cristeta Comerford?
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Cristeta Comerford was the White House assistant chef in 2002 and was quickly promoted to executive chef. Photo: George W Bush Presidential Library and Museum -
Ms Comerford presents calotte of beef, which will be served to President Joe Biden and French President Emmanuel Macron at the White House. EPA -
Ms Comerford shows off her butter-poached Maine lobster and other dishes during a preview of a White House state dinner. EPA -
The White House menu features elaborate dishes including a creme fraiche ice cream. AFP -
Ms Comerford will also present a trio of American cheeses in the red, white and blue-themed dinner at the White House. AFP -
Ms Comerford, second right, with White House executive pastry chef Susie Morrison. AP -
A trio of American cheeses and other dishes are displayed. AP -
The White House state dinner will include a butter-poached Maine lobster. AP -
US first lady Jill Biden is accompanied by Ms Comerford before the White House state dinner. AP -
Ms Comerford, second left, works with staff in the Old Family Dining Room of the White House to plate a course in 2011. Photo: Official White House Photo / Pete Souza -
Barack Obama fist-bumps executive pastry chef Susie Morrison after sampling pies with his wife Michelle Obama, ABC anchor Robin Roberts and Ms Comerford during an interview about Thanksgiving in the White House kitchen in 2014. Photo: Official White House Photo / Pete Souza -
Ms Comerford, foreground, briefs staff on preparations for a state dinner honouring Mexico in 2010. Photo: Official White House Photo / Samantha Appleton -
Michelle Obama, who was first lady at the time, laughs with Ms Comerford, right, as she gives a kitchen preview for a dinner at the White House in 2009. Reuters -
Ms Obama is joined by Ms Comerford, right, and children of military families for a craft project during the 2012 holiday decorations press preview. Photo: Official White House Photo / Chuck Kennedy -
Barack Obama, who was president at the time, and former German chancellor Angela Merkel tour the White House kitchen garden in 2014. Photo: Official White House Photo / Pete Souza -
Ms Obama and Rachael Ray, back right, watch Ms Comerford and children preparing a meal in 2016. Photo: Official White House Photo / Amanda Lucidon -
Ms Comerford and Laura Bush, the first lady at the time, discuss holiday food in the State Dining Room. Photo: National Archives -
Ms Comerford in the kitchen with then-first lady Michelle Obama. Photo: Obama White House Archives -
Ms Comerford hosts a media preview of an official dinner in honour of the Japanese prime minister, hosted by George W and Laura Bush. Photo: National Archives -
The menu created by Ms Comerford for the prime minister of Japan. Photo: National Archives -
Guillaume Gomez, Special Representative of the President of France for Gastronomy, gives the insignia of Officier du Merite Agricole to Ms Comerford in 2022. AFP -
Ms Comerford, the first woman in charge of the White House kitchen, was inducted into France's Order of Agricultural Merit at the rank of officer. AFP -
Ms Comerford holds dishes that will be served at Thursday evening's State Dinner. Reuters -
Comerford and staff work in the Kitchen of the White House in 2009. Official White House Photo / Joyce N Boghosian
