Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump welcomed Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison and his wife, Jennifer, to the White House with a pomp-filled military arrival ceremony on the South Lawn Friday morning.
Morrison is just the second world leader to be granted the high diplomatic honor of a state visit during the Trump administration.
The leaders spoke and faced journalists at a joint news conference in the White House East Room. Morrison will also be treated to lunch at the State Department.
They will cap the night with an opulent state dinner beneath the stars in a Rose Garden arrayed in shades of green and gold in tribute to his Australia’s national colors.
The first lady released some key details, but is withholding the guest list and details about her gown until just before the festivities get under way.
During a press gaggle on Friday morning, Trump said tonight’s dinner is the first time a state dinner has been held in the Rose Garden.
This is not true.
"The first lady has done an incredible job," says @realDonaldTrump [1] abt @FLOTUS [2] planning tonight's state dinner. He then says it might be the first in the Rose Garden (it's not) or at least rare (it is).
— Kate Bennett (@KateBennett_DC) September 20, 2019 [3]
Trump always loves to say he’s the first president to do something, but sadly for him, former President Obama also hosted a state dinner in 2011 in the Rose Garden for Germany’s Angela Merkel.
The Obamas held a state dinner in the Rose Garden in 2011 for Angela Merkel. trump and is wrong for saying it's a first or hasn't been done in along time. pic.twitter.com/pD9qnoanpm [4]
— Tyler M (@M212Tyler) September 20, 2019 [5]
And for some reason, even though the weather forecast shows no chance of rain, Trump is petrified it will rain on his dinner tonight:
Trump on two separate occasions fretted about the possibility that it will rain tonight during his outdoor state dinner at the White House with Australian PM Scott Morrison.
The sun is supposed to be shining in DC all weekend, so this is an odd thing for him to be worried about pic.twitter.com/1eOmGdES7n [6]
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) September 20, 2019 [7]