Donald trump is the first President in a century, which never had a government lunch for the first year of tenure, reports the AP.
Press Secretary of the White house Sarah Huckabee Sanders said that there were «special reasons» due to which trump has not conducted the government of dinners in 2017. She added that the event may be held later, in early 2018. However, who of the heads of foreign States will be honored — not yet known.
Earlier, during his election campaign, trump has repeatedly criticized by the state dinners. So, he made comments about the former head of state Barack Obama, who staged a gala state dinner for China’s President XI Jinping.
«I wouldn’t give si the afternoon,» said trump. «I’d give him a hamburger from McDonald’s and said it was time to get to work».
Nonetheless, visiting Asia this year, the President changed the opinion. He enthusiastically talked about what honors and what scope he was welcomed in different countries.
Anita McBride, a former head of the office of first lady Laura Bush, said that the state dinner is not a whim of the President, this event is to «strengthen relations» and to make plans for the future, friendly. In other words, it is an important diplomatic tool.
