Reporters get a sneak peek on the desk setting and menu for President Biden’s state dinner for Australia’s Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Oct. 24, 2023.

Mark Schiefelbein/AP

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Reporters get a sneak peek on the desk setting and menu for President Biden’s state dinner for Australia’s Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Oct. 24, 2023.

Mark Schiefelbein/AP

President Biden is internet hosting Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese for a state dinner on Wednesday. But the White House is scaling again a little bit of its deliberate celebrations — months within the making — due to the disaster within the Middle East.

First woman Jill Biden had invited Georgia get together band the B-52s to be the musical leisure for the dinner, however she advised reporters on Tuesday that she had modified these plans. The band will attend the dinner as company, however the Army and Air Force Strolling String bands and the U.S. Marine Band will carry out as a substitute.

“We are now in a time when so many are facing sorrow and pain, so we made a few adjustments to the entertainment portion of the evening,” the primary woman stated.

First woman Jill Biden speaks throughout a media preview of the state dinner for Australia’s Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.

Mark Schiefelbein/AP

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First woman Jill Biden speaks throughout a media preview of the state dinner for Australia’s Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.

Mark Schiefelbein/AP

Here’s what’s on the menu

In the night, the leaders and their company will dine in a pavilion on the South Lawn draped in a cascade of colourful fabric impressed by the colours of the sundown, the White House advised reporters. Tables might be festooned with pink roses, Australian eucalyptus, dahlias and delphiniums.

“Nurturing our partnerships and relationships with our allies is critically important, especially in these tumultuous times,” Jill Biden stated on Tuesday, previewing the state dinner’s menu.

“Food is comforting, reassuring and healing, and we hope that this dinner provides a little of that as well,” she stated.

Guest chef Katie Button, who has eating places in North Carolina, has ready a menu that includes butternut squash soup, a roasted beet salad, and sarsaparilla-braised quick ribs.

Guest chef Katie Button exhibits reporters sarsaparilla-braised quick ribs, the principle course for a state dinner for Australia’s prime minister.

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Guest chef Katie Button exhibits reporters sarsaparilla-braised quick ribs, the principle course for a state dinner for Australia’s prime minister.

Mark Schiefelbein/AP

The U.S. is deepening ties with Australia to counter China

As the Biden administration has labored to counter China’s affect within the Indo-Pacific area — its high international coverage precedence — the White House has sought to deepen its ties with Australia.

President Biden had deliberate to go to Australia in May, however needed to cancel his journey because of the debt ceiling negotiations. Now, one other disaster is overshadowing the go to meant to honor Albanese.

The leaders will talk about what’s occurring within the Middle East, stated John Kirby, spokesperson for the National Security Council. But additionally they plan to speak about cooperation on synthetic intelligence, a brand new settlement for U.S. corporations to launch into house from Australia and agreements between the 2 nations on vital minerals.

“The theme — the current — running through this visit is really going to be on innovation,” Kirby stated.

President Biden and first woman Jill Biden present Jodie Haydon the place to face for a photograph throughout a non-public go to the evening earlier than a state dinner honoring Australia’s Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.

Brendan Smialowski/AFP through Getty Images

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President Biden and first woman Jill Biden present Jodie Haydon the place to face for a photograph throughout a non-public go to the evening earlier than a state dinner honoring Australia’s Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.

Brendan Smialowski/AFP through Getty Images