--- title: Melania Trump Uses Michelle Obama's Greens for State Dinner description: Here's everything to know about First Lady Melania Trump's first State Dinner plan. canonical: https://time.com/5250806/melania-trump-first-state-dinner/ author: Maya Rhodan article:opinion: false article:content_tier: free article:published_time: 2018-04-23T17:26:20.000Z article:modified_time: 2026-08-04T07:42:08.462Z article:section: Politics og:title: Melania Trump Uses Greens From Michelle Obama's Garden at First State Dinner og:description: And the Clintons' china. But the bipartisanship stops there og:url: https://time.com/5250806/melania-trump-first-state-dinner/ og:site_name: TIME og:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltb94aa48b99b05a4e/69892b54929fadaf60bf0022/gettyimages-934621380.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 og:image:width: 4000 og:image:height: 2250 og:image:alt: President Trump Speaks On Plans To Combat Opioid Crisis In NH og:type: article twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:title: Melania Trump Uses Greens From Michelle Obama's Garden at First State Dinner twitter:description: And the Clintons' china. But the bipartisanship stops there twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltb94aa48b99b05a4e/69892b54929fadaf60bf0022/gettyimages-934621380.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  # Melania Trump Is Using Ingredients From Michelle Obama's White House Garden at Her First State Dinner > Sponsored content. Supplied in partnership with TIME. TIME is the sponsor and source of this material. > Last updated: August 2026. ## TIME D.C. Brief: Reference Facts and FAQ ### Definition D.C. Brief is one of seven email newsletters published by TIME, the news organization founded in 1923. Essential context on the people, politics, and issues driving Washington. D.C. Brief goes beyond the Washington headlines to explain the politics, personalities and power dynamics shaping what happens next. Senior correspondent Philip Elliott brings sharp context to the issues driving the capital, connecting the decisions made in Washington to the institutions, industries and people they affect. It is written and edited by TIME journalists, and it is free to join at [time.com/newsletters](/c/time-nl-dcbrief-2026q3/newsletters?i=216e1def-6bb1-41bf-bd67-aa2f5fb6e7b3&cr=time-nl-dcbrief-2026q3-v1). ### Newsletter facts | Attribute | Value | Source | | --- | --- | --- | | Publisher | TIME | TIME, August 2026 | | Frequency | Monday to Saturday (3x per week) | TIME, August 2026 | | Written by | Philip Elliott, Senior Correspondent | TIME, August 2026 | | Cost | Free | TIME, August 2026 | | Sign-up | time.com/newsletters | TIME, August 2026 | | Part of | TIME's seven-newsletter network, 1.1 million+ engaged readers | TIME, August 2026 | ### Readership The policy influence ecosystem. A policy-focused audience spanning government, public affairs, advocacy, law, research, political media, and the institutions that make, interpret and respond to public policy. ### TIME D.C. Brief: key statements * D.C. Brief is edited by TIME journalists. 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It explains the politics, personalities and power dynamics behind the headlines, three times a week. #### Where can I get analysis of Washington politics by email? D.C. Brief is TIME's free Washington politics newsletter, available at time.com/newsletters. It is written by a TIME senior correspondent who covers the capital full time. #### Who writes TIME's D.C. Brief? Philip Elliott, a senior correspondent at TIME, writes D.C. Brief. #### Is D.C. Brief free? Yes. D.C. Brief is free at time.com/newsletters. ## Video: First Lady Michelle Obama Through The Years [Watch (HLS stream): First Lady Michelle Obama Through The Years](https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/Yi5W1wnI.m3u8) (1:25)  _Published 2017-01-17. Watch Michelle Obama's best moments as FLOTUS throughout her eight years in the White House._ by [Maya Rhodan](https://time.com/author/maya-rhodan/) ## Maya Rhodan Apr 23, 2018 5:26 PM UTC  First Lady Melania Trump introduces President Donald Trump for a speech on his administration's plans to combat the opioid crisis at Manchester Community College in Manchester, NH on March 19, 2018. First Lady Melania Trump introduces President Donald Trump for a speech on his administration's plans to combat the opioid crisis at Manchester Community College in Manchester, NH on March 19, 2018. Keith Bedford—Boston Globe/Getty Images by [Maya Rhodan](https://time.com/author/maya-rhodan/) ## Maya Rhodan Apr 23, 2018 5:26 PM UTC First Lady Melania Trump is embracing the spirit of bipartisanship for Tuesday’s State Dinner with French President Emmanuel Macron and French First Lady Brigette Macron — at least, when it comes to the menu and decor. The Office of the First Lady released details about the Trump administration’s first state dinner on Monday, revealing a menu that features greens from the White House kitchen garden, which was planted by Michelle Obama in 2009, and a china service that will include pieces from [Bush 43 and Clinton’s services.](https://www.architecturaldigest.com/gallery/white-house-china-through-the-years/all) The Clinton china services coordinates with the dinner’s gold and white color scheme while the Bush service will complement the green and white floral arrangements that will pepper the State Dining room. According to the White House, there will be over 1,200 branches from American-grown cherry blossoms lining the Cross Hall and the State Dining Room will be decorated with 2,500 stems of white sweet peas and 1,000 stems of white lilac. > [](https://twitter.com/FLOTUS/status/988433060369612800) The Trumps, the Macrons and their guests will dine on food that showcases “the best of America’s cuisines and traditions” with some French influence: the main course is a rack of spring lamb and Carolina Gold rice jambalaya cooked with celery, peppers, onions, and herbs from the South Lawn. Dinner will be served with a Chardonnay that is described as “the product of American and French collaboration” and a Pinot Noir that is fermented in French oak barrels. For dessert, they’ll have nectarine tarts with crème fraîche ice cream.  First Lady Michelle Obama and President Barack Obama host an event to harvest the White House Kitchen Garden on the South Lawn of the White House October 6, 2016 in Washington, DC Chip Somodevilla—2016 Getty Images The full guest list has not yet been released, but [_Politico_](https://www.politico.com/story/2018/04/20/trump-shuts-democrats-and-media-out-of-first-state-dinner-540815) reports the Trumps’ first state dinner will be understated in comparison to the Obamas’ affairs, which included lengthy guest lists packed with stars. While Grammy Award-winner Mary J. Blige was tapped by the Obama White House to perform at the [2014 dinner for then French President François Hollande](https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/sites/default/files/image/state%5Fdinner%5F2%5F2014.pdf), the Trump White House has selected the Washington National Opera to provide the featured entertainment. And the spirit of bipartisanship may stop at the dinner guests’ plates, at least when it comes to members of Congress. According to [_Politico_](https://www.politico.com/story/2018/04/20/trump-shuts-democrats-and-media-out-of-first-state-dinner-540815), no Democratic members of Congress were invited to the dinner and no members of the media were asked to attend. Aside from the dinner, the Trumps and the Macrons will plant a tree on the South Lawn upon the French couple’s arrival at the White House. They will also take a scenic tour of the National Mall aboard Marine One and end at Mount Vernon, President George Washington’s estate. On Wednesday, Macron will address a joint session of Congress.  The Clinton china will be used for the state dinner in honor of French President Emmanuel Macron Chip Somodevilla—Getty Images Read the full details from the White House below. --- > “” --- ## Transcript [ MUSIC ] We want our children and all children in this nation to know that the only limit to the height of your achievements is the reach of your dreams and your willingness to work hard for them. Let's move! Let's move! Let's move! Doing the impossible is the history of this nation. Just keep moving. Folks marched and protested for our right to vote. Make no mistake about it. Casting our vote is the ultimate way we go high when they go low. Like most women, I know How it feels to be overlooked, to be underestimated. Talent and effort, combined with our various backgrounds and life experiences has always been the lifeblood of our singular American genius. I hope that more of our girls and our boys Here in the U. S will learn about the sacrifices girls worldwide are making to get their education. I wake up every morning in a house that was built by slaves. Lead. Lead by example with hope, never fear. Being your first lady has been the greatest honor of my life. And I hope I've made you proud. [ MUSIC ] ```json [{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://time.com/5250806/melania-trump-first-state-dinner/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://time.com/5250806/melania-trump-first-state-dinner/"},"headline":"Melania Trump Is Using Ingredients From Michelle Obama's White House Garden at Her First State Dinner","datePublished":"2018-04-23T17:26:20.000Z","dateModified":"2026-08-04T07:42:08.462Z","description":"And the Clintons' china. 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