US President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania have invited French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte for a private dinner at Mount Vernon, the lavish Virginia mansion of first president and founding father George Washington.
It is also a symbol of the “special relationship” between France and the United States.
Few details have emerged about the rendezvous. The site — a majestic 18th century colonial estate and one of America’s most visited homes — will close four hours early for a “private event.”
In 1961, the Kennedys and their guests arrived at Mount Vernon by presidential yacht. The state dinner in honor of Pakistan’s president was held on the east lawn, which offers an incomparable view of the Potomac River.
The iconic former plantation, just 15 miles (21 kilometers) from the capital Washington, welcomes more than a million visitors each year.
“It’s a really special place where you can actually feel like you are walking in the footsteps of Washington (and) the leaders of the revolution,” Mount Vernon curator Susan Schoelwer said.