- Bidens hosting South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol and his wife Kim Keon-hee for a state dinner on Wednesday
- The actress will attend with her eldest son
- Jolie worked with White House to reauthorize the Violence Against Women Act
360
View comments
Angelina Jolie and her son Maddox will be among the 200 guests joining President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden at the White House on Wednesday for a state dinner honoring the president of South Korea.
A White House official confirmed to DailyMail.com that the actress and her oldest son will be in attendance.
Jolie, who is politically active, was at the White House in September 2021 to talk about the reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act. During that trip she also visited Capitol Hill to lobby Congress on the matter.
Comment: For certain CIA is there and they are discussing Angie’s NEXT Propaganda Initiative
She returned to the White House in March 2022 to watch President Biden sign the reauthorization into law. She brought her daughter Zahara to that event, where they met with the president.
Jolie has long been active in political and international issues, particularly women’s issues and speaking for refugees.
Comment: Why is an ACTRESS involved in political and international issues? Only because she is a person of influence NOT Because she is qualified.
Angelina Jolie and her son Maddox will attend Wednesday’s state dinner at the White House – above the two of them in Toronto in 2017
And she’ll be there to watch President Biden and first lady Jill Biden host the second state dinner of their administration on Wednesday for South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol and his wife Kim Keon-hee.
Guests will don black tie attire to dance and dine under cherry blossoms in the East Room of the White House.
They’ll enjoy on American food with a Korean twist.
The dinner will take place in the East Room of the White House, the largest of the formal rooms on the state floor of the White House.
The menu was designed by Chef Edward Lee, a Korean-American chef who’s known for infusing traditional American classics with Korean flavors.
‘That was the first thing I was told – ice cream,’ he said on Monday during a preview of the dinner.
Ice cream is President Joe Biden’s favorite dessert.
Lee, who has appeared on Top Chef and owns restaurants in Washington D.C. and New York, created about a dozen dishes for Jill Biden and her team to try in order to come by the final menu.
‘I wanted to take some of my favorite American foods and just tinker with it a little bit. And this is also how I cook in my restaurants – to just add a little bit of Korean touches to it. Where again, it’s familiar yet unexpected, and it’s not traditional Korean food, but it just gives you a little hint of Korean flavors,’ he said.
He said the first person he told about being asked to be guest chef for the evening was his mom, an immigrant from Korea.
‘We’ve always felt this huge debt of gratitude to the United States of America for the opportunities that they’ve had, that I’ve been able to have. So to come full circle, and to give back and be able to do this was, you know, a very proud moment for me and also for my mom,’ he said.
And as for the advice his mom gave him: ‘She just said don’t mess it up.’
President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden will host 200 guests at the White House for Wednesday’s state dinner
Angelina Jolie was at the White House in March 2022 for the reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act
Cherry blossoms tower over the tables for the upcoming state dinner
The three courses for the state dinner (from left). First course: Maryland Crab Cake Cabbage, Kohlrabi, Fennel, and Cucumber Slaw Gochujang Vinaigrette Yellow Squash Soup Cured Strawberries, Perilla Leaf Oil; Second course: Braised Beef Short Ribs Butter Bean Grits, Sorghum-Glazed Carrots, Pine Nuts; Third course: Banana Split Lemon Bar Ice Cream, Fresh Berries, Mint
The table settings use the china from George W. Bush’s presidency
White House Executive Pastry Chef Susie Morrison, left, standing with guest Chef Edward Lee, center, and White House Executive Chef Cris Comerford, right, talking about the dinner menu
A state visit is the highest diplomatic honor the U.S. reserves for its closest allies. Biden’s first went to France last December and took place in a glass tent on the South Lawn. Wednesday night’s is the first state dinner in the White House.
The first lady and her staff worked with Fête, an event and design firm owned by Korean American Jung Lee, to help create the theme and settings.
Jill Biden, during Monday’s preview of the event, said the decor was to ‘showcase the harmony of our cultures and our people intertwined.’
When guests enter the East Room, they will see scenic landscape designs that features some of the most American symbols – American Bison, the American Bald Eagle, roses, stars – and Korean images – the Korean magpie and Korean tiger.
The decorations were inspired by the Taegeuk, the symbol in the center of the Republic of Korea flag, which represents balance, harmony, and peace, according to the White House.
And it pays tribute to the 70-year alliance with the Republic of Korea. It includes platinum-colored table linens and flowers that are important to both countries.
First lady Jill Biden with (from left) White House Executive Pastry Chef Susie Morrison, White House Executive Chef Cris Comerford, and guest Chef Edward Lee
The table settings from the state dinner
The decor pays tribute to the 70-year alliance with the Republic of Korea
Cherry blossoms decorate the cross hall of the White House
But the most dramatic features if the over six-foot tall cherry blossoms that tower over the tables, giving a canopy of pink flowers for the guests to dine under.
‘You have to admit that’s pretty spectacular,’ Jill Biden said of the decor.
The table setting uses the china from President George W Bush’s administration. The plate has a gold eagle in the center. Each napkin has a fresh flower blossom on it.
Some of the tables are made out of teal blue plexiglass, which reflects the cherry blossoms back to the guests.
The bamboo chairs have a blue covering that evoke traditional sumukhwa (Korean ink brush painting). The designs are branches with peonies, representing prosperity and joy, and bamboo elements, representing longevity and strength.
Peonies and the first lady of South Korea’s favorite flowers.
The are smaller vases of flowers as part of the table setting: Peonies, Orchids, Cherry Blossoms, and Azaleas (a native Korean flower). All are pink, red or white. Candles twinkle between the flower arrangements.
The entertainment portion of the evening will consist of Broadway stars Norm Lewis, Lea Salonga and Jessica Vosk performing American musical classics.
