By Penelope Galliou
The raid on his banquet hall White Housestops and the arrival is announced of the US presidential couple and of the prime minister couple of Greece. The reception at the White House, in honor of Kyriakos Mitsotakis and his wife has just begun and the atmosphere is extremely warm, intimate and hides a lot…
Costume surprises, crucifixions, jokes, renamings, Greek sounds and Greek flavors were recorded in background of the reception which was presented in honor of the Greek Prime Minister and his wife by the US Presidential couple Joe and Jill Biden.
From the beginning of his address to the Greek Prime Minister, the American president broke the ice of etiquette with humor and cordiality, referring to the discussion that the two leaders had previously and jokingly referred to the good “chemistry” that developed. “We had a great conversation, the dangerous thing is that they liked each other! said Joe Biden, provoking the laughter of his high-ranking guests.
With endless humor, the president of the USA did not miss the opportunity to emphasize the excellent relations he maintains with the Greek community, which almost made him forget that he is making his cross! “I have been among the Greek-Orthodox community for so long and as a Roman Catholic I make my cross in the wrong way! I catch myself trying to make him right, I do not know; the Pope will have gone crazy with my change! ” he commented, seeing his expatriate friends laughing.
In fact, his relations with the Greek expatriates are so close that in his intercourse with them he has now changed his last name, as revealed by the American president. “I want to joke about being known as Joe Bidenopoulos to the Greek-American community in Delaware!” recommended for those who did not know this aspect. A joke he made during the reception of Kyriakos Mitsotakis, to whom he introduced himself as Baintenopoulos, with the Greek Prime Minister urging him to make it Cretan!
The dialogue between the two leaders, which was uploaded on their Instagram account by the Greek Prime Minister, is very typical:
-Jo Biden: Welcome! I am glad to see you!
-Kyriakos Mitsotakis: My pleasure!
-Jo Biden: Joe Bidenopoulos
-Kyriakos Mitsotakis: Baitenakis! Mitsotakis, Baitenakis!
-Jo Biden: I think you are right! It is better!
Upon the arrival of the guests at the White House banquet hall, Greek music prepared the atmosphere for an event with a strong Greek color. Besides, President Biden also chose to honor our country in terms of costumes, wearing a tie with the Greek flag welcoming the Greek Prime Minister! A tie that he had exchanged on his own initiative in 2017 with the then Undersecretary of State Terence Quick on the sidelines of the first European Conference of the Concordia organization in Athens.
The menu of the reception was also extremely Greek, which, since it had a reference point for the 201 years since the Greek Revolution, could not miss the traditional cod – garlic! Thus, Americans and Greeks invited by the presidential couple enjoyed Greek flavors such as beets with Skordalia, dolmades, spinach pie, crab meatballs, ribs and of course Skordalia cod!
However, a Greek party was also held in the courtyard of the White House where the band played Greek songs. “Nina-nai yavrum” and “Pera ston pera kambos” aroused the attendees and some did not miss the opportunity to start dancing!
The reception in honor of the Greek prime minister’s couple was the first in the White House since the pandemic and the first during the presidency of Joe Biden.
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