First Trump State Dinner Brings Billionaires And Administration Officials

[Dulcinea]

There's arguably nothing grander in the nation's capital than a state dinner.

The red carpet gets rolled out, the silverware is shined, and the coveted guest list is winnowed down.

State dinners are intricate diplomatic dances filled with pageantry and symbolism — and they take months to plan. The world is watching and every choice from the china pattern to the flowers is scrutinized.

First lady Melania Trump carefully prepped for Tuesday night's state dinner honoring French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte, the first of the Trump administration and a big moment for a first lady who prefers to keep a low profile.

https://www.npr.org/2018/04/24/605467270/first-trump-state-dinner-brings-billionaires-and-administration-officials

[ck4829]

1. Look at all those "forgotten Americans" with their "economic anxieties"

"High-profile guests included: Apple CEO Tim Cook; Apple VP Lisa Jackson (who served as former President Obama's EPA chief); media mogul Rupert Murdoch and his wife Jerry Hall; Chairman and CEO of Blackstone Group Stephen Schwarzman; billionaire co-founder and co-executive chairman of The Carlyle Group David Rubenstein; President and CEO of Lockheed Martin Marillyn Hewson; Goldman Sachs Partner John F. W. Rogers; and CEO of IBM Virginia Rometty."

[mahatmakanejeeves]

4. I'm going to give David Rubenstein a pass.

He put up half the cost of reopening the Washington Monument after the earthquake of 2013 (right year?). Also, that's his copy of Magna Carta that he has lent to the National Archives. He does good things with his money.

If I ever see him, I'd like to shake his hand.

[Timmygoat]

2. My feelings

I saw the pics of the dining room and I thought it looked just a little overdone, like Trump tower. Too much gilt and gold paint does not really say 'good taste', but then I guess Trump wanted his own Palace of Versailles.

[Dulcinea]

3. At the risk of sounding shallow...

...Ivanka's dress is ugly. She looks like a cupcake.