USA, 22nd June 2023: US President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden welcomed Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the White House in Washington, DC on Wednesday.
PM Modi arrived in Washington earlier in the day for the second leg of his official tour, where he was met with a ceremonial welcome and a guard of honour at Andrews Air Base. Both countries’ national anthems were played at the welcome event.
PM tweeted at 12 am on June 22nd, and informed people that he had reached Washington. He wrote, “Reached Washington DC. The warmth of the Indian community and the blessings of Indra Devta made the arrival even more special.”
Upon his arrival in Washington, PM went to the National Science Foundation with First Lady Jill Biden.
According to the White House, the trio later enjoyed a musical homage performed by youth dancers from Studio Dhoom, which was based on different areas of India.
PM Modi attended a private engagement at the White House on Wednesday, a day before the high-profile state dinner, where the US President and First Lady held an intimate dinner.
The POTUS’ favourite meals, pasta and ice cream, were on the menu. The Bidens were greeted by US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan, who was joined by his Indian counterpart Ajit Doval at the White House.
The first couple also gave PM Modi a handmade, vintage American book galley from the early twentieth century along with some other gifts.
Biden is said to have given Modi an antique American camera as well as a hardcover book on American nature photography. Jill Biden gave him a signed first-edition copy of Robert Frost’s ‘Collected Poems’.
On the other hand, Prime Minister Modi presented a special gift to US President Joe Biden and US First Lady Jill Biden. PM Narendra Modi gave the President a handcrafted sandalwood box with ‘das danam’ and Jill Biden a lab-grown 7.5-carat green diamond.
PM Narendra Modi thanked his hosts, President Biden and First Lady Jill Biden, for the warm welcome in the White House in a tweet. He stated that they discussed a variety of issues.
On June 23, US President Biden and Prime Minister Modi will make speeches and field questions about the official visit and US-India relations. There will be a speech to a joint session of the United States Congress.
On the evening of June 23, the Prime Minister will then address the Indian-American community.
