Trump state dinner President and Melania host Macron at White House

Trump state dinner President and Melania host Macron at White House

President Donald Trump and wife Melania welcomed the French president and first lady to the White House for their first state dinner on Tuesday night as the two leaders toasted to continued warm relations between their countries. 

All eyes were on Melania as she stole the show in a Chanel black Chantilly lace haute couture gown that had been hand-painted with silver and embroidered with crystal and sequins. 

The First Lady paired her gown with a pair of gunmetal stilettos. 

Brigitte Macron opted for a Louis Vuitton cream full-length gown with long sleeves and gold brocade detail.

In a toast before Tuesday's dinner honoring France, Trump described his wife as 'America's absolutely incredible first lady' before he raised a glass to President Macron and the 'unbreakable friendship' between the US and its oldest ally.  

He thanked her for her efforts on the dinner and said she had created an evening that everyone will always 'cherish and remember.' The dinner for 123 guests marked Mrs Trump's highest-profile hostess gig to date as first lady.

Trump went on to raise a glass to President Macron saying: 'May our friendship grow even deeper'. 

In his toast, Macron, who spoke in French, thanked Trump for making him the first world leader honored with a state visit. 

He added that he and Trump had pledged to work together and listen to one another.

'Thank you for the quality of our exchanges,' he said before toasting the 'unbreakable friendship' of the US and France.

Among the guests were Ivanka Trump and her husband Jared Kushner who were among the first to arrive at the White House shortly after 6pm with the first daughter choosing a $13,686 pink tulle Rodarte gown for the occasion.

They were followed closely by Vice President Mike Pence and wife Karen. 

Reporters were left off the invite list but one media mogul made the list: the owner of Fox News Channel Rupert Murdoch. The media mogul held his wife Jerry Hall's hand as they made their way into the White House. 

Other notable guests who made their way into the White House included CEO of Apple Tim Cook and IMF Managing Director Christine Lagarde. 

Aides had feared that the president would personally dole out invitations to the dinner last week while visiting Mar-a-Lago so they constrained him to adding just four names to the guest list. It's unclear if Murdoch and Hall were among that group. 

The White House released the full guest list of 130 people directly before the dinner. Congressional Democrats and White House reporters were already known to have been left out. 

The only Democrat on the list was Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards and his wife Donna, as it is custom to invite Louisiana politicians to state dinners with France because of the state's Cajun-French roots.

Republican House Speaker Paul Ryan, Defense Secretary Jim Mattis and US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and his colorful actress wife Louise Linton were also in attendance. 

Linton, wearing a champagne and silver gown by Italian designer Roberto Cavalli, told reporters she was looking forward to 'everything French' when she stepped into the White House.

The White House showed off the finishing touches of first lady Melania Trump's decor on Monday night, from the place-setting to the giant flower arrangements greeting guests.

Reporters were briefly allowed into the White House and were greeted by gold table settings, gold silverware, gold candlesticks, gold wine glasses, gold chairs – situated elegantly around puffs of green and white flowers – in the candlelit state dining room. 

At each of the place settings there was a menu, with the White House seal and the fleur-de-lis, which were also in gold.

Just outside the state dining room, the first lady went with a different theme, using some 1,200 cherry blossoms in giant black vases that would greet guests as they came in.  

Earlier on Monday, the White House had released some details about the dinner, including the menu.

Goat cheese gateau, tomato jam, buttermilk biscuit crumbles, young variegated lettuces would be served, along with a rack of spring lamb, burnt cipollini soubise and Carolina gold Rice Jambalaya, with a nectarine tart and crème fraîche ice cream for dessert. 

Two wines from Oregon will be served and a demi-sec champagne.

The meal was being prepared by White House Executive Chef Christeta Comerford, who was hired during President George W. Bush's administration, and stayed through the Obama years.

The first lady spent last Saturday in bipartisan company, attending the funeral of former first lady Barbara Bush alongside the Clintons and Obamas – all Democrats – and former Presidents George H.W. Bush and George W. Bush, with his wife Laura. 

During the state dinner, she showcased china from the administrations of President Bill Clinton and President George H.W. Bush.