Biden-Macron State Dinner Live Updates:

Menu for State Dinner

First lady Jill Biden’s office on Wednesday shared the full menu for the first state dinner held during President Joe Biden’s administration. The dinner honors French President Emmanuel Macron Thursday night.

Ahead of a Wednesday media preview, the first lady’s office said the menu will include:

• Butter Poached Maine Lobster
• American Osetra Caviar
• Delicata Squash Raviolo
• Tarragon Sauce
• Calotte of Beef, Shallot Marmalade
• Triple Cooked Butter Potatoes
• Sunchoke & Creamed Watercress
• Red Wine Reduction

The White House will also serve a cheese course featuring three American artisanal cheeses: Rogue River Blue, Cypress Grove Humboldt Fog and Deer Creek Cheddar Cheese.

On the dessert menu will be:

• Orange Chiffon Cake
• Roasted Pears with Citrus Sauce
• Crème Fraiche Ice Cream

And the wine menu will include:

• Newton Unfiltered Chardonnay “Napa Valley” 2018
• Anakota Cabernet Sauvignon “Knights Valley” 2019
• Roederer Estate Brut Rosé N/V

The first lady’s office said the event menu was created in collaboration with White House Executive Chef Cris Comerford and White House Executive Pastry Chef Susie Morrison.

Jill Biden Previews Dinner

First lady Jill Biden gave a preview Wednesday of the state dinner honoring French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife, Brigitte Macron.

The dinner marks the first such event being held in the U.S. during President Joe Biden’s administration, as well as the first state dinner since the onset of the coronavirus pandemic.

Thursday’s dinner will be held on the White House’s South Lawn. The first lady described the event as “an expression of welcome and friendship,” and as “a way to connect through a language that transcends words.”

The first lady said the event design was “inspired by the shared colors of our flags” and by “our common values: liberty and democracy, equality and fellowship.”

Red roses, blue delphiniums and white irises will decorate the tables. Images of the fleur-de-lis, the Statue of Liberty and oak trees will also be in view of event attendees.

Preparation for the state dinner has involved months of planning, the first lady said.

“Our hope is that the end result will be a night that balances the beauty of our friendship with the seriousness of our purpose,” she said. “And we hope that French citizens everywhere feel the warmth of our welcome.”

Macron Honors WWII Veterans

French President Emanuel Macron attended an event honoring World War II veterans in Washington D.C. Thursday.

The ceremony took place at the French Embassy to honor veterans Samuel Davis, Carl Felton, George Idelson, Benjamin Portaro and Buddy Reynolds.

Macron shook their hands and awarded each of them the Legion d’Honneur, the highest honor France offers, for their efforts to liberate France during the Second World War.

During a speech, Macron called the men “soldiers of freedom who left everything behind, risked everything, to liberate France and the world.”

He also visited Arlington National Cemetery to honor American soldiers “who paid the ultimate sacrifice to liberate France.”

“You came to fight 80 years ago from the other side of the Atlantic to ensure our shared ideals and faith in democracy would triumph,” he said in a tweet. “France will be eternally grateful.”