Held in a marquee on the White House's south lawn, the dinner was organised for the Prime Minister and his wife, who are on a three-day visit to the US.
Although the trip is an "official visit" rather than a "state visit" because Mr Cameron is not head of state, the Obamas chose to call last night's event a "state dinner", with all the ceremony and pomp.
President Obama gave Mr and Mrs Cameron a sartorial thumbs-up as they arrived at 7pm, declaring: "They look better than us."
During his dinner toast, Mr Obama paid to the Prime Minister, saying: "I've seen his character, I've seen his commitment to human dignity in Libya.
"I've seen his resolve, his determination to get the job done."
And in an apparent reference to the couple's care for their disabled son Ivan, who died in 2009 aged six, the president said: "I will say something else, David: all of us have seen how you as a parent along with Samantha have shown a measure of strength that few of us will ever know.
"Tonight I thank you for bringing that same strength and solidarity to our partnership."
Mr Cameron responded by saying he felt the special relationship "in his bones".
He praised Mr Obama's "strength, moral authority and wisdom", citing his decision to order the mission which led to the death of Osama bin Laden.
"Let us all agree, the world is better off without bin Laden but the world is better off without Gaddafi too," said Mr Cameron.
He said that Mr Obama had "pressed the reset button" on moral authority in the world.
Mr Cameron also complimented both wives while joking about his Tuesday night out with Mr Obama at a college basketball game in Ohio.
"We have to have a guys' night out because so often we find we are completely overshadowed by our beautiful wives," the prime minister said.
:: Pictures: Friendships Forged Between Prime Ministers And Presidents
Among famous names from both sides of the Atlantic who scored golden tickets to the event were actor George Clooney, Virgin boss Richard Branson, billionaire Warren Buffett, Vogue editor Anna Wintour, Olympic gold medallist Denise Lewis, Rory McIlroy, the new world No1 golfer, and Downton Abbey stars Hugh Bonneville and Elizabeth McGovern.
The White House also made sure to save a seat at the tables for more than 30 of Mr Obama's top fundraisers, who each have helped raise at least $50,000 for the president's re-election effort.
No comments:
Post a Comment