Trumps to host Macrons over first state dinner today

US President and First Lady Melania Trump were set to host French President Emmanuel Macron and his spouse Brigitte Macron over their first state dinner at the White House on Tuesday, April 24.

Melania Trump and her staff members have worked on preparation for the glittering event for many months and the White House released pictures along with a 38-second video of the First Lady overseeing the work.

Trump did not host any state dinner during his first year in office and became the first incumbent to do so in more than a century. More than a hundred guests were expected to grace the event.

Sources in the White House said the colour scheme for the dinner is gold and cream and food will be served on china from the previous presidencies of Bill Clinton and George W Bush, AFP reported.

The report also said that the Cross Hall of the White House will be decorated with over 1,200 cherry blossom branches while the dining room will feature white sweet peas and white lilacs. The food will be "the best of America's cuisines and traditions, with nuances of French influences", AFP cited the White House as saying.

On Monday, April 23, the Trumps hosted the Macrons over dinner at the historic Mount Vernon on the banks of the Potomac River in Virginia which is the estate of George Washington, the USA's first president.

The media was not allowed at the dinner although the two leaders and their wives posed for the shutterbugs.

Macron is on a three-day visit to the US during which he is expected to raise crucial issues like climate change and Iran nuclear deal with the US president.