The White House is no longer a little old place where we can get together: the B-52s won't be performing their euphoric new wave hits at the Bidens' state dinner for Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese tonight because it wouldn't be appropriate in light of the abhorrent atrocities happening in the Middle East.
"While we had initially planned for the legendary B-52s to perform their iconic dance and party music, we are now in a time when so many are facing sorrow and pain. So we made a few adjustments to the entertainment portion of the evening," first lady Jill Biden said in a statement yesterday (October 24) [via The Hill].
Instead, President Joe Biden's "own Marine Band and the Army and Air Force Strolling Strings will provide instrumental music for the dinner," she announced. Biden added that the B-52s will attend the dinner as guests.
Of course, while the first lady didn't directly cite anything, she was most likely referring to the ongoing violence in Gaza. The MTV EMAs were similarly cancelled amid the Israel–Hamas war, while Mustafa has pleaded with his "old acquaintance" Justin Trudeau to speak out on behalf of Palestine.
The Australian Prime Minister was invited to the White House after President Biden cancelled a visit to the country last May because he was busy dealing with congressional budget issues, according to The Washington Post. Press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told the publication that "there is no more important time than now" for a meeting between the two leaders.
"Nurturing our partnerships and relationships with our allies is critically important, especially in these tumultuous times," Jill Biden added. "Food is comforting, reassuring and healing, and we hope that this dinner provides a little of that as well."
"While we had initially planned for the legendary B-52s to perform their iconic dance and party music, we are now in a time when so many are facing sorrow and pain. So we made a few adjustments to the entertainment portion of the evening," first lady Jill Biden said in a statement yesterday (October 24) [via The Hill].
Instead, President Joe Biden's "own Marine Band and the Army and Air Force Strolling Strings will provide instrumental music for the dinner," she announced. Biden added that the B-52s will attend the dinner as guests.
Of course, while the first lady didn't directly cite anything, she was most likely referring to the ongoing violence in Gaza. The MTV EMAs were similarly cancelled amid the Israel–Hamas war, while Mustafa has pleaded with his "old acquaintance" Justin Trudeau to speak out on behalf of Palestine.
The Australian Prime Minister was invited to the White House after President Biden cancelled a visit to the country last May because he was busy dealing with congressional budget issues, according to The Washington Post. Press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told the publication that "there is no more important time than now" for a meeting between the two leaders.
"Nurturing our partnerships and relationships with our allies is critically important, especially in these tumultuous times," Jill Biden added. "Food is comforting, reassuring and healing, and we hope that this dinner provides a little of that as well."
