This photograph by Chuck Kennedy was taken at a State Dinner held in honor of President Hu Jintao of the People's Republic of China on January 19, 2011. President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama welcomed the Chinese president for an official State Visit, including an arrival ceremony on the South Lawn of the White House grounds earlier in the day. The State Dinner took place in the State Dining Room. Joining the Obamas and Hu Jintao at the central table beside the State Dining Room's fireplace were former President Bill Clinton, Secretary of State (and former first lady) Hillary Rodham Clinton, former President Jimmy Carter, and former first lady Rosalynn Carter.

In this photograph First Lady Dr. Jill Biden stands on stage with singer-songwriter Jon Batiste at a State Dinner held in honor of President Emmanuel Macron of the French Republic on December 1, 2022. The State Dinner was part of Macron's official State Visit with President Joseph R. Biden, and was preceded earlier in the day by a State Arrival Ceremony on the South Lawn and a joint press conference with Biden and Macron in the East Room of the White House. The State Dinner took place under a tent on the South Lawn and included decor in red, white, and blue - the common colors on the flags of the United States and France. Batiste performed for the honored guest. This was Biden's first State Visit as president. This photograph was taken by Matthew D'Agostino for the White House Historical Association.

In this photograph President Joseph R. Biden and President Emmanuel Macron of the French Republic hold a joint press conference on December 1, 2022 in the East Room of the White House. The press conference was preceded by a State Arrival Ceremony on the South Lawn where President Biden and First Lady Dr. Jill Biden welcomed Macron and Brigette Macron, spouse of the French president, for an official State Visit. The State Visit culminated in a State Dinner later that evening. This was Biden's first State Visit as president. This photograph is by Matthew D'Agostino for the White House Historical Association.

In this photograph, President Joseph R. Biden speaks at the State Arrival Ceremony held for President Emmanuel Macron of the French Republic on December 1, 2022. Macron can be seen on stage beside President Biden. The arrival ceremony, the first part of Macron's official State Visit, took place on the South Lawn and was followed by a press conference with President Biden and Macron and, later that evening, a State Dinner. First Lady Dr. Jill Biden and Brigette Macron, spouse to the president of France, were in attendance at the arrival ceremony and at the day's other events. This was Biden's first State Visit as president. This photograph was taken by Matthew D'Agostino for the White House Historical Association.

This photograph of President George H. W. Bush and Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain on the reviewing stand during an Arrival Ceremony held in her honor was taken by Joseph H. Bailey on May 14, 1991. The ceremony was held on the South Lawn of the White House Grounds. On the right side of the reviewing stand are Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh and First Lady Barbara Bush. The Bushes also honored Queen Elizabeth's visit with a State Dinner in the evening. Her visit was the start of a13 day tour of the United States.

This photograph of the State Dining Room was taken by David Wiegold on December 2, 2024 during a press preview of the White House holiday decorations. President Joseph R. Biden and First Lady Dr. Jill Biden selected "A Season of Peace and Light" as the 2024 holiday theme. For President and Dr. Biden’s final winter holiday season at the White House, the décor was inspired by the spirit of goodwill and gratitude and the festive opening of the doors to the President’s House. The décor in the State Dining Room was dedicated to Dr. Biden’s work with the Joining Forces initiative in support of military families, and featured paper chains constructed by the families of the USS Delaware and the USS Gabrielle Giffords, which Dr. Biden served as a sponsor of. The trees in the State Dining Room featured self-portraits made by school children from across the country. The traditional White House Gingerbread House was also in display in the State Dining Room.

This photograph of the White House Gingerbread House was taken by David Wiegold on December 2, 2024 during a press preview of the White House holiday decorations. President Joseph R. Biden and First Lady Dr. Jill Biden selected "A Season of Peace and Light" as the 2024 holiday theme. For President and Dr. Biden’s final winter holiday season at the White House, the décor was inspired by the spirit of goodwill and gratitude and the festive opening of the doors to the President’s House. The 2024 White House Gingerbread House, on display in the State Dining Room, featured a golden starburst atop the White House and an ice skating rink – complete with skaters – on the South Lawn.

This photograph of the White House Gingerbread House was taken by David Wiegold on December 2, 2024 during a press preview of the White House holiday decorations. President Joseph R. Biden and First Lady Dr. Jill Biden selected "A Season of Peace and Light" as the 2024 holiday theme. For President and Dr. Biden’s final winter holiday season at the White House, the décor was inspired by the spirit of goodwill and gratitude and the festive opening of the doors to the President’s House. The 2024 White House Gingerbread House, on display in the State Dining Room, featured a golden starburst atop the White House and an ice skating rink – complete with skaters – on the South Lawn.

This photograph of the White House Gingerbread House was taken by David Wiegold on December 2, 2024 during a press preview of the White House holiday decorations. President Joseph R. Biden and First Lady Dr. Jill Biden selected "A Season of Peace and Light" as the 2024 holiday theme. For President and Dr. Biden’s final winter holiday season at the White House, the décor was inspired by the spirit of goodwill and gratitude and the festive opening of the doors to the President’s House. The 2024 White House Gingerbread House, on display in the State Dining Room, featured a golden starburst atop the White House and an ice skating rink – complete with skaters – on the South Lawn.

This portrait photograph of Liliʻuokalani, Queen of Hawai'i, was taken circa 1891, around the time of the beginning of her reign. Liliʻuokalani was the last sovereign of the Kingdom of Hawai'i before it was overthrown by the United States on January 17, 1893. She was the sister of Kalākaua, King of Hawai'i, who was the first head of state to be honored with a formal State Dinner, held in 1874 and hosted by President Ulysses S. Grant and First Lady Julia Dent Grant at the White House. Liliʻuokalani herself would visit the White House on numerous occasions.

In this photograph, President Jimmy Carter lights a menorah in celebration of Hanukkah on December 17, 1979. This was the first lighting of the National Menorah, and took place in Lafayette Park, across Pennsylvania Avenue from the White House. President Carter, in dressed in a tuxedo for a State Dinner held in honor of Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher of Great Britain, put on an overcoat and walked across the street to the ceremony, which featured a small crowd of a few dozen. The lighting of the National Menorah historically takes place on the Ellipse and is overseen by a politician of the Jewish faith.

This photograph of President Joseph R. Biden and First Lady Dr. Jill Biden at a State Arrival Ceremony held in honor of President Emmanuel Macron of the French Republic was taken on December 1, 2022 by Matthew D'Agostino. The State Arrival Ceremony took place on the South Lawn of the White House Grounds ahead of a press conference with President Biden and Macron and, later that evening, a State Dinner. In this photograph, President and Dr. Biden are seen greeting the arrival of the vehicle transporting Macron and Brigitte Macron, spouse to the French president, to the ceremony. This was Biden's first State Visit as president.

This photograph of President Joseph R. Biden and First Lady Dr. Jill Biden at a State Arrival Ceremony held in honor of President Emmanuel Macron of the French Republic was taken on December 1, 2022 by Matthew D'Agostino. The State Arrival Ceremony took place on the South Lawn of the White House Grounds ahead of a press conference with President Biden and Macron and, later that evening, a State Dinner. In this photograph, President and Dr. Biden are seen greeting the arrival of the vehicle transporting Macron and Brigitte Macron, spouse to the French president, to the ceremony. This was Biden's first State Visit as president.

This photograph of President Joseph R. Biden and First Lady Dr. Jill Biden at a State Arrival Ceremony held in honor of President Emmanuel Macron of the French Republic was taken on December 1, 2022 by Matthew D'Agostino. The State Arrival Ceremony took place on the South Lawn of the White House Grounds ahead of a press conference with President Biden and Macron and, later that evening, a State Dinner. In this photograph, President and Dr. Biden are seen exiting the White House through the doors to the Diplomatic Reception Room to welcome Macron and Brigitte Macron, spouse to the French president, to the ceremony. This was Biden's first State Visit as president.

This photograph of President Joseph R. Biden and First Lady Dr. Jill Biden at a State Arrival Ceremony held in honor of President Emmanuel Macron of the French Republic was taken on December 1, 2022 by Matthew D'Agostino. The State Arrival Ceremony took place on the South Lawn of the White House Grounds ahead of a press conference with President Biden and Macron and, later that evening, a State Dinner. In this photograph, President and Dr. Biden are seen exiting the White House through the doors to the Diplomatic Reception Room to welcome Macron and Brigitte Macron, spouse to the French president, to the ceremony. This was Biden's first State Visit as president.

This photograph of President Joseph R. Biden and First Lady Dr. Jill Biden at a State Arrival Ceremony held in honor of President Emmanuel Macron of the French Republic was taken on December 1, 2022 by Matthew D'Agostino. The State Arrival Ceremony took place on the South Lawn of the White House Grounds ahead of a press conference with President Biden and Macron and, later that evening, a State Dinner. In this photograph, President and Dr. Biden are seen exiting the White House through the doors to the Diplomatic Reception Room to welcome Macron and Brigitte Macron, spouse to the French president, to the ceremony. This was Biden's first State Visit as president.

This photograph of members of the military flanking the doorway into the Diplomatic Reception Room on the South Grounds of the White House was taken by Matthew D'Agostino on December 1, 2022. The two are holding the flags of the United States and the French Republic for a State Arrival Ceremony in honor of the State Visit of President Emmanuel Macron of the French Republic. President Joseph R. Biden and First Lady Dr. Jill Biden welcomed Macron and Brigitte Macron, spouse to the president of France, to the White House for the day's events which included the arrival ceremony, a press conference with President Biden and Macron, and, later that evening, a State Dinner. This was Biden's first State Visit as president.

This photograph of members of the United States Marine band on the South Portico of the White House was taken by Matthew D'Agostino on December 1, 2022. The U.S. Marine Band was on hand for the State Arrival Ceremony held in honor of the State Visit of President Emmanuel Macron of the French Republic. President Joseph R. Biden and First Lady Dr. Jill Biden welcomed Macron and Brigitte Macron, spouse to the president of France, to the White House for the day's events which included the arrival ceremony, a press conference with President Biden and Macron, and, later that evening, a State Dinner. This was Biden's first State Visit as president.

This photograph of President Joseph R. Biden and First Lady Dr. Jill Biden at a State Arrival Ceremony held in honor of President Emmanuel Macron of the French Republic was taken on December 1, 2022 by Matthew D'Agostino. The State Arrival Ceremony took place on the South Lawn of the White House Grounds ahead of a press conference with President Biden and Macron and, later that evening, a State Dinner. In this photograph, President and Dr. Biden are seen exiting the White House through the doors to the Diplomatic Reception Room to welcome Macron and Brigitte Macron, spouse to the French president, to the ceremony. This was Biden's first State Visit as president.

This photograph of members of the military flanking the doorway into the Diplomatic Reception Room on the South Grounds of the White House was taken by Matthew D'Agostino on December 1, 2022. The two are holding the flags of the United States and the French Republic for a State Arrival Ceremony in honor of the State Visit of President Emmanuel Macron of the French Republic. President Joseph R. Biden and First Lady Dr. Jill Biden welcomed Macron and Brigitte Macron, spouse to the president of France, to the White House for the day's events which included the arrival ceremony, a press conference with President Biden and Macron, and, later that evening, a State Dinner. This was Biden's first State Visit as president.

This photograph of President Joseph R. Biden and First Lady Dr. Jill Biden at a State Arrival Ceremony held in honor of President Emmanuel Macron of the French Republic was taken on December 1, 2022 by Matthew D'Agostino. The State Arrival Ceremony took place on the South Lawn of the White House Grounds ahead of a press conference with President Biden and Macron and, later that evening, a State Dinner. In this photograph, President and Dr. Biden are seen exiting the White House through the doors to the Diplomatic Reception Room to welcome Macron and Brigitte Macron, spouse to the French president, to the ceremony. This was Biden's first State Visit as president.

This photograph of President Joseph R. Biden and First Lady Dr. Jill Biden at a State Arrival Ceremony held in honor of President Emmanuel Macron of the French Republic was taken on December 1, 2022 by Matthew D'Agostino. The State Arrival Ceremony took place on the South Lawn of the White House Grounds ahead of a press conference with President Biden and Macron and, later that evening, a State Dinner. In this photograph, President and Dr. Biden are seen exiting the White House through the doors to the Diplomatic Reception Room to welcome Macron and Brigitte Macron, spouse to the French president, to the ceremony. This was Biden's first State Visit as president.

This photograph was taken at the State Arrival Ceremony held in honor of the State Visit of President Emmanuel Macron of the French Republic on December 1, 2022 by Matthew D'Agostino. The arrival ceremony took place on the South Lawn, where President Joseph R. Biden and First Lady Dr. Jill Biden welcomed Macron and Brigitte Macron, spouse of the president of France. The arrival ceremony was followed by a press conference with President Biden and Macron, and, later that evening, a State Dinner. This was Biden's first State Visit as president.

This photograph was taken at the State Arrival Ceremony held in honor of the State Visit of President Emmanuel Macron of the French Republic on December 1, 2022 by Matthew D'Agostino. The arrival ceremony took place on the South Lawn, where President Joseph R. Biden and First Lady Dr. Jill Biden welcomed Macron and Brigitte Macron, spouse of the president of France. The arrival ceremony was followed by a press conference with President Biden and Macron, and, later that evening, a State Dinner. This was Biden's first State Visit as president.

This photograph was taken at the State Arrival Ceremony held in honor of the State Visit of President Emmanuel Macron of the French Republic on December 1, 2022 by Matthew D'Agostino. The arrival ceremony took place on the South Lawn, where President Joseph R. Biden and First Lady Dr. Jill Biden welcomed Macron and Brigitte Macron, spouse of the president of France. The arrival ceremony was followed by a press conference with President Biden and Macron, and, later that evening, a State Dinner. This was Biden's first State Visit as president.