Biden Hosts Governors at White House for Dinner
WASHINGTON—President Joe Biden, hosting both Republican and Democratic governors for a black-tie affair at the White House, raised his glass for a toast.
Standing beneath a portrait by Abraham Lincoln, he encouraged the people to recall who they were. “We’re the United States of America. We can get big things done if we do it together.”
“Cheers!” The crowd responded, and the clinking of glasses rippled around the State Dining Room.
Biden hosted Dinner The dinner was held at the White House by members of the National Governors Association for the first-ever time under his administration. It’s usually a tradition, but the dinner was held last year at Mount Vernon, George Washington’s Virginia estate, and virtually in 2021 because of COVID-19.
Federal leaders appeared as divided as ever as the House’s new Republican majority sought to avoid a dangerous debt ceiling showdown.
On Saturday at the White House, though, the message was togetherness—and not just because the room was tightly packed with governors, spouses, and Cabinet members. Biden and both associations’ leaders, Republican Gov. Spencer Cox from Utah and Democratic Governor. Phil Murphy, New Jersey’s Democratic Governor, spoke out about the need for people to come together and improve the country.
“I think when we work together it works,” Biden said, adding he’d work to be a little more bipartisan and praised the work of the governors.
The purple velvet tablecloths were used (wink wink at bipartisanship), and china bearing the presidential seal was used. Large floral centerpieces in white or pink were also used.
Cabinet members were mixed in with governors wearing ball gowns, tuxedos and sparkles. Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer was seated next to Gina Raimondo, Commerce Secretary. Maryland Gov. Wes Moore, New York Gov. Both Kathy Hochul and Vice President Kamala Harris sat next to each other. The Republican Governors were not far from the scene. Bill Lee of Tennessee, Doug Burgum from North Dakota.
First Lady Jill Biden held a service project event earlier Saturday for spouses, but she had to skip a Friday event because she wasn’t feeling well. She was negative for COVID-19.
Biden, who does not drink, gave the toast with his left hand, explaining he’d been told by his grandfather that that’s just what you did when you don’t have alcohol in the glass. Cox, who also doesn’t drink, did the same when he toasted, telling the room it was ginger ale.
“It’s symbolic to have Republicans and Democrats breaking bread together,” Cox stated. “This is what is missing.”
“And I believe that the people of our country, at least the exhausted majority, wants us to be doing more of this.”
Cox thanked Biden, the first lady, and Murphy before introducing Murphy. Murphy joked that he definitely had his glass in his right-hand. He claimed that party affiliations were more important than their shared moniker. “Americans.”
After dinner, guests went into the East Room to hear Brad Paisley perform the song. “American Saturday Night” Other tunes.
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