During a grand state dinner held at the White House, US President Joe Biden and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi shared light-hearted moments. Both leaders being teetotallers, engaged in a toast, prompting President Biden to recall his grandfather, Ambrose Finnegan’s advice on raising a toast without alcohol.
In front of an audience of approximately 400 guests, speaking at the high-profile event, President Biden humorously shared his grandfather’s wisdom, stating, “If you give a toast and you don’t have any alcohol in the glass, you must do it with your left hand. You all think I’m kidding. I’m not.” The crowd erupted in laughter as the translator attempted to convey the humorous remark in Hindi.
Expressing gratitude for the productive visit, President Biden and First Lady Jill Biden, who had spent a delightful day with Prime Minister Modi, celebrated the strong bonds of friendship between India and the United States. “Jill and I have had a wonderful time with the Prime Minster today, during your truly productive visit. Tonight we celebrate the great bonds of friendship between India and the United States,” President Biden said.
Prime Minister Modi expressed his appreciation to the Bidens for hosting the dinner and extending a warm welcome.
Addressing US President Biden and the First Lady, PM Modi said, “I want to thank US President Joe Biden for this wonderful dinner today. I would also like to thank First Lady Jill Biden for taking care of my visit to make it successful. Yesterday evening you opened the doors of your house for me.”
He emphasised the significance of the guests present, stating that they symbolise the energy, dynamism, and potential of the US-India relationship. PM Modi said, “This evening is made special by the presence of the people of our two countries, they are our most precious assets,” he added that guests in the audience ,“symbolise a lot about the US-India relationship – our energy, our dynamism, and our potential.”
Also read: PM Modi state dinner: Mukesh Ambani, Anand Mahindra among 380 guests invited. Full List here
The state dinner witnessed an impressive gathering of prominent figures from various industries, including business, fashion, and entertainment. Among the distinguished guests were designer Ralph Lauren, filmmaker M. Night Shyamalan, and tennis legend Billie Jean King. Tech leaders from Apple, Google, and Microsoft were also present, further highlighting the importance of the occasion.
Also read: PM Modi’s State Dinner: Meet Raj Patel, owner of PATEL’s red wine that will be served at White House
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Updated: 23 Jun 2023, 08:22 AM IST
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