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Barack Obama

Watch: Finnish first couple attends White House state dinner

Finnish President Sauli Niinistö and his spouse Jenni Haukio concluded their historic state visit to the United States Friday evening by attending a rare state dinner on the White House lawn. The couple was part of a five-country delegation of Nordic leaders jointly invited by U.S. President Barack Obama for a state visit. It was only the eleventh state dinner hosted by Obama in his eight years in office.

Watch the video: U.S. President Barack Obama and his wife Michelle greet the Finnish President Sauli Niinistö and his spouse Jenni Haukio at the north entrance of the White House. Image: Source: US Pool / EBU

President Sauli Niinistö and his wife Jenni Haukio represented Finland at an official state visit to the White House this week, the first time a Finnish President has been invited on a state visit to the U.S. for 14 years.

The visit was a joint Nordic affair, with the leaders of Sweden, Norway, Denmark and Iceland also in attendance with their partners.

Läpinäkyvän katon läpi erottuu puita; kynttilät ja kattoon ripustetut lamput valaisevat telttaa.
The state dinner was held under tents on the south lawn. Image: Mike Theiler / UPI Pool

In his evening address, President Obama said he was grateful for the cultural influence the Nordics have had on the U.S. He highlighted the Danish pastor N.F.S. Grundtvig, the ideological father of the folk high school, whose principles inspired civil rights workers in Tennessee. 

Obama also teased his Nordic visitors over their competition to win the ’world’s happiest country’ title and which country is truly the home of Santa.

Presidentti Barack Obama piti maljapuheen Pohjoismaiden juhlaillallisella Valkoisessa talossa.
U.S. President Barack Obama proposes a toast. Image: Mike Theiler / EPA

The entire guest list for the evening has been published on the White House website. Several celebrities with Nordic roots were invited to attend; actor Will Ferrell and former TV talk show host David Letterman among them. Singer Demi Lovato entertained the gathering.

Yhdysvaltojen ja viiden Pohjoismaan johtajat puolisoineen yhteiskuvassa ennen juhlaillallista Valkoisessa talossa.
U.S. and five Nordic country leaders gathered for a picture with their spouses. Image: Mike Theiler / EPA