WASHINGTON — Top figures from business, sports and politics – including an ex-president – showed up for the state dinner in honor of Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida on Wednesday, as the White House served up its maximum dose of pomp and circumstance to celebrate a close honor America’s ally.
Bill and Hillary Clinton were in familiar territory for the event, with the former president declaring that it “feels great” to be back before glancing appreciatively at a portrait of his wife from her first lady days that stood nearby could be seen.
Guests in bright spring colors and lots of shiny dresses chatted politics and chatted business as they strolled in — that meant eclipse banter from NASA Administrator Bill Nelson (“fantastic” view in Ohio!) and an assessment of President Joe Biden’s election prospects in Wisconsin from Governor Tony Evers (looking good!).
But on a day when inflation news from Washington was less than encouraging, Fed Chairman Jay Powell breezed by without even making small talk. Olympic figure skater Kristi Yamaguchi, wearing a purple dress, said she didn’t expect to be campaigning for Biden but still seemed optimistic about his re-election. Actor Robert DeNiro provided the Hollywood quotient for the evening.
On a warm spring evening, the Bidens stepped out on the North Portico to welcome Kishida and his wife Yuko, who stood out in a flowing royal blue dress on the red carpet.
Inside, Jill Biden, wearing a beaded sapphire dress, had transformed the State Floor of the White House into what she called a “vibrant spring garden” for the evening. The floor of the famed Cross Hall was decorated with images that gave the nearly 230 guests the feeling of walking across a koi pond, a nod to fish that symbolize “friendship, peace, happiness and perseverance,” the first lady said Tuesday during a media preview. .
A state dinner is a tool of American diplomacy, an honor given sparingly and only to America’s closest allies. In Japan’s case, the president has bestowed that honor for the fifth time on an ally he sees as a cornerstone of his policy toward the Indo-Pacific region.
Kishida is on an official visit to the United States this week. The state dinner is Biden’s first this year.
The gamble involved many Biden family members, including granddaughter Naomi and her husband Peter Neal. Business magnates were also in attendance, including JP Morgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon, Apple CEO Tim Cook, Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, as well as union leaders UAW chief Shawn Fain and United Steelworkers President David McCall. Both unions have endorsed Biden for re-election.
Dry-aged rib eye steak, cherry blossoms and the music of Paul Simon are also part of the evening.
Guests will dine on a meal designed to highlight the “richness of spring” in Japan and the United States: an appetizer of house-cured salmon inspired by a Californian roll and an entree of dry-aged rib eye steak with shishito pepper butter, broad beans, mushrooms and onions. Dessert is salted caramel pistachio cake with a matcha ganache and cherry ice cream.
Some of Jill Biden’s favorite flowers, including sweet peas, roses and peonies, are arranged alongside imported cherry blossoms to decorate a mix of round and rectangular dining tables in the East Room in shades of pink. A few flower arrangements are 1.8 meters high.
Tables were set with a mix of place settings representing the administrations of Presidents Lyndon B. Johnson and George W. Bush. Butterflies made of glass and silk dance over the tables.
After dinner Simon will perform. He is one of Jill Biden’s favorite artists, the White House said, adding that she selected him as a special tribute to Kishida because the prime minister also admires Simon’s work.
Simon’s career spans six decades, including performances as a duo with his childhood friend Art Garfunkel. The 82-year-old New Jersey native has earned numerous accolades, including multiple Grammys and a place in Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.
Also providing entertainment are “The President’s Own” Marine Band Chamber Orchestra, the Army Rolling Strings and the Air Force Strings.
Kishida is the fifth world leader Biden has honored with a state dinner, following colleagues from France, South Korea, India and Australia.