Main Content
This photograph by Abbie Rowe of the National Park Service shows President Harry S. Truman, General Charles de Gaulle of France, and other military leaders saluting on the South Lawn.
National Archives and Records Administration
In this color photograph, President John F. Kennedy and First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy along with the guest of honor André Malraux, Minister of State for Cultural Affairs of France and his wife, Madeleine Malraux pose for a picture at the foot of the Grand Staircase in the White House Entrance Hall prior to a White House dinner on May 11, 1962.
John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum/NARA
This photograph by shows part of the arrival ceremony for President Georges Pompidou of France on February 24, 1970, whose visit occurred during the Richard M. Nixon administration. The two presidents can be seen walking from the stage on the South Lawn.
White House Historical Association
President Jimmy Carter and French Prime Minister Raymond Barre attend a working dinner in the White House on September 15, 1977.
Jimmy Carter Presidential Library and Museum/NARA
First Lady Nancy Reagan talks with her social secretary, Gahl Hodges Burt, as they walk through the Cross Hall of the White House on March 22, 1984. Danielle Mitterrand, wife of French President Francois Mitterrand, walks ahead of them on the right. The Mitterrands were in Washington, D.C., for an official State Visit.
Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum/NARA
President George W. Bush and First Lady Laura Bush stand with President Nicolas Sarkozy of France on the North Portico of the White House after his arrival for a State Dinner on November 6, 2007.
George W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum/NARA
Singer Mary J. Blige performs during the State Dinner for President François Hollande of France inside a tent on the South Lawn of the White House, February 11, 2014. Hollande can be seen between President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama.
Official White House Photo by Pete Souza
President Donald J. Trump and First Lady Melania Trump host President Emmanuel Macron and Mrs. Brigitte Macron of France at the arrival ceremony for the first official state visit of the Trump Administration on April 24, 2018.
Official White House Photo by Andrea Hanks
This photograph of President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. sharing a toast with President Emmanuel Macron of the French Republic was taken by Matthew D'Agostino on December 1, 2022. The two presidents were photographed onstage during a State Dinner, held on the South Lawn, in honor of the French president's visit to the White House.
About this Gallery
For more than two hundred years, France and the United States have enjoyed a relationship unparalleled in world history. From the American Revolution and the Founding Fathers to the current administration, these two countries have shared a strong connection through art, culture, and history.
Past French Official State Visit that included a State Dinner are listed below:
A State Dinner honoring a visiting head of government or reigning monarch is one of the grandest and most glamorous of White House affairs. It is part of an official State Visit and provides the president and first lady the opportunity to honor the visiting head of state and his or her spouse. In this collection, explore the history of
A dinner at the White House has always had significance beyond the gastronomical delights. The elegance of the State Dining Room and the intimacy of the Family Dining Room set the stage for the politics and diplomacy that takes place between courses. In this collection, learn how the style of each room has evolved with its purpose, and how the
The White House has hosted many important heads of state over the years. Typically, the president and first lady join the visiting leader for official talks, leisurely activities and, in many cases, a State Dinner. When Chinese Vice Premiere Deng Xiaoping (Teng Hsiao-ping) and his wife Madame Zhuo Lin came to the White House in 1979, it marked the highest-ranking Chinese
Geography, history, and friendship have been the driving force of ties between the United States and Canada. In 1927, official rapport was established when our two countries received ambassadors and began a long diplomatic relationship. The first official state dinner hosted in honor of Canada's highest appointed official was held on December 6, 1927, as President Calvin Coolidge and First Lady Grace Coolidge
Long before the emergence of the United States and Italy as modern nation states were influenced by classical writers, philosophers, theorists, and polymaths of the ancient world. The United States' diplomatic relationship with Italy began long before Italian President Antonio Segni was an official guest of President Lyndon B. Johnson in January of 1964. Since then, many other Italian leaders have
For more than two hundred years, France and the United States have enjoyed a relationship unparalleled in world history. From the American Revolution and the Founding Fathers to the current administration, these two countries have shared a strong connection through art, culture, and history. This collection highlights that connection and the protocol of official foreign visits by French heads of
