President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden welcomed French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte Macron to the White House on Thursday evening for the administration's first state dinner since his election.
The occasion marks a post-COVID return to Washington's political pomp and circumstance as the allied nations aim to present a united front following rocky relations between the two during the previous presidency.
The first lady took the lead in planning the black-tie affair, saying the dinner (including a menu with lobster) would reflect the US and France's shared values, as well as shared colors: red, white, and blue.
Several high-profile guests began to arrive ahead of the dinner's 8:50 p.m. ET start time, offering a glimpse into the A-list guest list and extravagant affair.