List of state dinners in the United States facts for kids

Illustration of the first state dinner at the White House. David Kalākaua, monarch of the Kingdom of Hawaii meeting with President Ulysses S. Grant.

A state dinner in the United States is a very fancy dinner party. It is held to honor a special visitor from another country. This visitor is usually a head of state, like a king, queen, or president. The President of the United States hosts these dinners. They usually happen in the State Dining Room at the White House in Washington, D.C..

Other formal dinners for important people, like a prince or princess, are called official dinners. The main difference is that the government does not pay for official dinners. Today, these dinners are often "black tie" events, meaning guests wear formal suits or dresses.

The very first state dinner happened on December 22, 1874. President Ulysses S. Grant hosted it to welcome King Kalākaua from the Kingdom of Hawai'i. State dinners today are very important for politics. They are attended by prime ministers, presidents, and other important people.

What is a State Dinner?

A state dinner is a special event where the U.S. President welcomes leaders from other countries. It's a way to show respect and build strong relationships. These dinners are not just about eating; they are also about talking and working together. They help countries understand each other better.

Who Attends State Dinners?

The main guests are usually a foreign head of state or head of government. This could be a president, prime minister, king, or queen. Along with the main guest, other important people attend. These include politicians, diplomats, and sometimes famous people from entertainment or sports.

The White House State Dining Room

Most state dinners happen in the beautiful State Dining Room at the White House. This room is decorated to be very grand and welcoming. It's a historic place where many important conversations have taken place.

A Look at Past State Dinners

Many U.S. Presidents have hosted state dinners. Each dinner is unique, but they all share the goal of building friendships between nations. Here are some examples from different presidencies.

Ulysses S. Grant

President Grant hosted the first state dinner. It was a big moment for American diplomacy.

Date	Visiting Country	Guest(s) of Honor
December 22, 1874	Hawaii	Kalākaua of Hawai'i

Franklin D. Roosevelt

President Roosevelt hosted many state dinners, even during difficult times like World War II.

Date	Visiting Country	Guest(s) of Honor
June 8, 1939	United Kingdom	George VI of the United Kingdom
February 12, 1941	Luxembourg	Charlotte, Grand Duchess of Luxembourg

Harry S. Truman

President Harry S. Truman and First Lady Bess Truman with Brazilian President Eurico Gaspar Dutra and other dignitaries at a state dinner (1949)

President Truman hosted leaders from around the world as the U.S. played a bigger role after the war.

Date	Visiting Country	Guest(s) of Honor
August 22, 1945	France	Charles de Gaulle
May 18, 1949	Brazil	Eurico Gaspar Dutra

Dwight D. Eisenhower

Dwight D. Eisenhower (far right), Nikita Khrushchev, and their wives at a state dinner (1959)

President Eisenhower welcomed many leaders, including some from countries that were not always allies.

Date	Visiting Country	Guest(s) of Honor
October 28, 1953	Greece	Paul of Greece
September 15, 1959	Soviet Union	Nikita Khrushchev

John F. Kennedy

President Habib Bourguiba of Tunisia and President John F. Kennedy with their wives and General Chester Victor Clifton Jr. at the state dinner in 1961.

President Kennedy's state dinners were known for their elegance and often featured famous performers.

Date	Visiting Country	Guest(s) of Honor	Entertainment
May 3, 1961	Tunisia	Habib Bourguiba
April 11, 1962	Iran	Mohammad Reza Pahlavi	Ballets: U.S.A., Jerome Robbins

Lyndon B. Johnson

Lyndon B. Johnson, Levi Eshkol, and their wives enter a state dinner (1964)

President Johnson's dinners sometimes included unique entertainment or locations.

Date	Visiting Country	Guest(s) of Honor	Entertainment
December 29, 1963	West Germany	Ludwig Erhard	Pianist Van Cliburn
October 26, 1967	Mexico	Gustavo Diaz-Ordaz	Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass

Richard Nixon

Richard Nixon, Pat Nixon, and Leonid Brezhnev at a state dinner (1973)

President Nixon hosted many leaders during a time of changing global politics.

Date	Visiting Country	Guest(s) of Honor
March 24, 1969	Canada	Pierre Trudeau
June 18, 1973	Soviet Union	Leonid Brezhnev

Gerald Ford

Queen Sofia, First Lady Betty Ford, King Juan Carlos I, and President Gerald Ford greeting guests at a state dinner (1976)

President Ford continued the tradition of welcoming world leaders to the White House.

Date	Visiting Country	Guest(s) of Honor
August 16, 1974	Jordan	King Hussein of Jordan
July 7, 1976	United Kingdom	Queen Elizabeth II Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh

Jimmy Carter

Jimmy Carter toasts Carlos Andres Perez, the President of Venezuela, during a state dinner (1977)

President Carter's dinners often focused on human rights and peace.

Date	Visiting Country	Guest(s) of Honor	Entertainment
February 14, 1977	Mexico	José López Portillo	Rudolf Serkin
March 26, 1979	Egypt Israel	Anwar Al-Sadat Menachem Begin	Omar Khorshid and Gamal Abdel-Rahim Itzhak Perlman and Pinchas Zukerman

Ronald Reagan

The Reagans with President João Figueiredo of Brazil and his wife Dulce (1982)

President Reagan with Brazilian President José Sarney and Pelé at a state dinner (1986)

Ronald Reagan, Mikhail Gorbachev, and their wives arrive at a state dinner (1987)

President Reagan's state dinners were known for their glamour and often featured famous entertainers.

Date	Visiting Country	Guest(s) of Honor	Entertainment
February 26, 1981	United Kingdom	Margaret Thatcher	Dance Theatre of Harlem
October 13, 1981	Spain	King Juan Carlos I	Ella Fitzgerald
December 8, 1987	Soviet Union	Mikhail Gorbachev	Van Cliburn

George H.W. Bush

President George H. W. Bush and First Lady Barbra Bush host President Abdou Diouf and First Lady Elizabeth Diouf of Senegal

President Bush's state dinners continued to strengthen ties with countries around the world.

Date	Visiting Country	Guest(s) of Honor	Entertainment
April 4, 1989	Egypt	Hosni Mubarak
May 30, 1990	Soviet Union	Mikhail Gorbachev	Frederica von Stade

Bill Clinton

President Bill Clinton and Nelson Mandela deliver remarks before their state dinner.

President Clinton's state dinners often celebrated cultural connections and global partnerships.

Date	Visiting Country	Guest(s) of Honor	Entertainment
October 4, 1994	South Africa	Nelson Mandela	Whitney Houston
February 5, 1998	United Kingdom	Tony Blair	Elton John and Stevie Wonder

George W. Bush

President George W. Bush toasts Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II during the state dinner in her honor at the White House. (2007)

President George W. Bush hosted many state dinners, including one for Queen Elizabeth II.

Date	Visiting Country	Guest(s) of Honor	Entertainment
September 5, 2001	Mexico	Vicente Fox	Dawn Upshaw
May 7, 2007	United Kingdom	Queen Elizabeth II Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh	Itzhak Perlman

Barack Obama

Xi Jinping and Barack Obama make a mutual toast at a state dinner (2015)

President Obama's state dinners featured a variety of musical guests and honored leaders from many nations.

Date	Visiting Country	Guest(s) of Honor	Entertainment
November 24, 2009	India	Manmohan Singh	Jennifer Hudson, A.R. Rahman
March 10, 2016	Canada	Justin Trudeau	Sara Bareilles

Donald Trump

President Donald Trump listens to remarks by Australia Prime Minister Scott Morrison during the State Dinner in the Rose Garden of the White House. (2019)

President Trump hosted state dinners to honor key allies.

Date	Visiting Country	Guest(s) of Honor	Entertainment
April 24, 2018	France	Emmanuel Macron	Washington National Opera
September 20, 2019	Australia	Scott Morrison	U.S. Army, Navy, Air Force and Marines Bands

Joe Biden

Before the state dinner: French First Lady Brigitte Macron and President Emmanuel Macron, President Joe Biden and US First Lady Jill Biden (2022)

President Biden continues the tradition of state dinners to welcome global leaders.

Date	Visiting Country	Guest(s) of Honor	Entertainment
December 1, 2022	France	Emmanuel Macron	Jon Batiste
April 26, 2023	South Korea	Yoon Suk-yeol	Norm Lewis, Jessica Vosk, Lea Salonga, Yoon Suk-yeol