John Leguizamo, Andrea Mitchell among guest list for Australian PM's White House state dinner
John Leguizamo, violinist Itzhak Perlman and U.S. Ambassador to Australia Caroline Kennedy are expected to be among the high-profile guests at the state dinner for Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, an event that the White House indicated would be a more muted affair amid the violence in the Middle East.
Other attendees poised to attend Wednesday’s soiree, according to a guest list provided by the White House, include journalist Andrea Mitchell, rapper Kid Laroi and singer Vance Joy.
The list also features members of the president’s family, including Naomi Biden, Finnegan Biden,and Valerie Biden.
Jill Biden said a day ahead of the gala that it would serve as a celebration of the two countries’ “past century of partnership” and “the next century of friendship.”
But the first lady said some “adjustments” were made to the night’s entertainment at the fourth state dinner of the Biden administration.
“While we had initially planned for the legendary B-52s to perform their iconic dance and party music, we are now in a time when so many are facing sorrow and pain,” Biden said.
Instead of the “Love Shack” singers, military bands will perform instrumental music at the black-tie gathering.
The decision to scale back on the potential revelry at the White House comes in the wake of Hamas’s terrorist attack against Israel on Oct. 7.