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Last night, President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump hosted King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima at the White House for dinner and an overnight stay.
It is not a state visit; the Dutch royals are visiting the United States on a “working visit,” with stops in Philadelphia, Washington, DC, and Miami. “The relations and the mutual transatlantic ties between the US and the Kingdom of the Netherlands are important for security and prosperity,” the Royal House of the Netherlands noted in an overview of the Dutch royal couple’s trip. “The working visit aims to underscore and strengthen the relationship and intensive cooperation in numerous fields at both the federal and state levels. The visit offers an opportunity, in the year that the US celebrates 250 years of independence, to reflect on the deep historical and cultural ties between the Kingdom of the Netherlands and the US.”
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The Trumps welcoming the couple at the Diplomatic Entrance to teh White House.
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The couples pose for a photograph outside the White House.
For the dinner, the Dutch queen wore an orange dress, a nod to the flag of the Netherlands. The First Lady, meanwhile, wore a black and white Erdem gown.
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Melania Trump and Queen Máxima.
The dinner was closed to press, but after, the Dutch Prime Minsiter Rob Jetten shared a message on social media on what occurred. “Our visit focused on the special and deeply rooted bond between the United States and the Netherlands. We talked about our strong trade relations and our security cooperation, including within NATO,” he wrote. “Of course we also discussed the recent developments in and around Iran. It is important that we now work towards a sustainable solution and prevent the situation from escalating further. Russia’s continuing aggression in Ukraine was also a key topic of discussion.”
After dinner, King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima stayed at the White House, at the invitation of President Trump.
Emily Burack (she/her) is the Deputy Digital Editor for Town & Country, where she covers entertainment, celebrities, the royals, and a wide range of other topics. Before joining T&C, she was the deputy managing editor at Hey Alma, a Jewish culture site. Follow her @emburack on Instagram, Twitter, and other social media platforms.