Biden and Kishida are both confronting difficult political headwinds on the home front while trying to navigate increasingly complicated problems on the global stageBill and Hillary Clinton were on familiar turf for the event, the former president declaring it “feels great” to be back before casting an appreciative eye at a portrait of his wife from her first lady days that was on display nearby.
On a warm spring evening, the Bidens came outside on the North Portico to welcome Kishida and his wife, Yuko, who stood out in a flowing royal blue gown on the red carpet. The guess included plenty of Biden family members, including granddaughter Naomi and her husband, Peter Neal. There were also business moguls in force, including JP Morgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon, Apple CEO Tim Cook, Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, as well as labor luminaries UAW chief Shawn Fain and United Steelworkers President David McCall. Both unions have endorsed Biden for reelection.
After dinner, Simon will perform. He is one of Jill Biden's favorite artists, the White House said, adding that she chose him as a special tribute to Kishida because the prime minister also admires Simon’s work.