Politicians and celebrities mingled in the White House, ahead of a state dinner for Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi, the last such dinner hosted by U.S. President Barack Obama whose term comes to a close in January 2017.
Actor and comedian, Jerry Seinfeld; celebrity chef Rachael Ray; singer James Taylor; New York Governor, Andrew Cuomo and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi were among the approximately 400 guests present at the glittering event.
U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, Samantha Power, said, “We have such an important relationship with Italy. There’s not a transnational threat that we handle without them by our side, ISIL, climate, UN peacekeeping, refugees and migration, they are the forefront. This is a night to celebrate that partnership.”
Actress and writer Ali Wentworth said they were all looking forward to the evening’s special dishes by celebrity chef Mario Batali.
Another celebrity chef, Rachael Ray, who worked closely with the First Lady Michelle Obama on her “Let’s Move!” campaign suffered a wardrobe malfunction and told reporters she planned to wear sneakers the next time she came to a White House event.
Indian-American designer, Naeem Khan, who has often dressed Michelle Obama, reflected on his relationship with the First Lady as she gets ready to leave the White House. He said “I don’t know when glamour is going to be back in the White House. Think about it. I mean, she pushes the American designers which is so wonderful and our fashion industry today is doing so fantastic and one of the reason is, she has acknowledged us.”
