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First Lady Jill Biden hosted a special spouses luncheon for the wives of the leaders of the Summit of the Americas Friday afternoon, which was catered by Los Angeles’ female chefs.
‘So I don’t know whether you speak English or Spanish but I think mmmmm is the same in both languages,’ Biden said, making the universal sound for yummy. ‘I think there were a lot of those today. As we ate this delicious meal.’
Biden gathered about a dozen first ladies together for the lunch, which took place outside the Frank Gehry-designed Walt Disney Concert Hall under a batch of trees shading the women from the 80-degree heat.
‘We all ate so much I hope you don’t fall asleep during my speech and I will forgive you if you do,’ the first lady joked.
Among the first ladies in attendance was Michelle Bolsonaro, the wife of Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, who had his first bilateral meeting with President Joe Biden at the summit Thursday, after hinting that he didn’t believe Biden to be the true winner of the 2020 race.
On Friday, Dr. Biden stayed close to Mrs. Bolsonaro, sitting next to her during a performance by Guatemalan singer-songwriter Gaby Moreno.
Later, as the women gathered for a ‘family photo,’ Biden stood next to Bolsonaro then too.
‘We all ate so much I hope you don’t fall asleep during my speech and I will forgive you if you do,’ First Lady Jill Biden joked at a luncheon she hosted Friday for the spouses of the world leaders who attended this week’s Summit of the Americas in Los Angeles
First Lady Jill Biden hosted the spouses of the leaders who attended the Summit of the Americas for a luncheon at the Walt Disney Concert Hall on Friday. She put her arms over the shoulders of Michelle Bolsonaro and (right of Biden) and Paraguay’s Silvana López Moreira (left of Biden) for a ‘sisterhood’ picture
First Lady Jill Biden (right) stayed close to Brazilian First Lady Michelle Bolsonaro (left) after their husbands held their first bilateral meeting Thursday. President Jair Bolsonaro, the ‘Trump of the Tropics,’ had expressed doubt about President Biden’s 2020 win prior to the meeting
First Lady Jill Biden (left) stands alongside singer Gaby Moreno (right) who provided entertainment at a Summit of the Americas spouses luncheon on Friday held outside the Walt Disney Concert Hall in downtown Los Angeles
First Lady Jill Biden (center) applauds the Youth Orchestra Los Angeles – or YOLA – at the Walt Disney Concert Hall ahead of a luncheon with Summit of the Americas spouses on Friday
The spouses of the Summits of the Americas listen to a song played the Youth Orchestra Los Angeles at Friday’s luncheon event at the Walt Disney Concert Hall
‘Take one for the press and one for the sisterhood,’ Biden told the women.
They stood side-by-side looking at the cameras for the first snap, and then Biden put her arms around Bolsonaro and Paraguay’s Silvana López Moreira, whose sister died in last year’s Miami condo collapse.
The Bidens have made use of Los Angeles’ impressive venues during this week’s Summit of the Americas, which brought together the leaders of North, Central and South American nations.
On Wednesday, the president and first lady hosted leaders and their delegations to a song and dance filled opening ceremony at the Microsoft Theater, where the Emmys are usually held.
Percussionists danced down the aisles in an Emilio Estefan-produced version of One World, One Prayer.
Cirque du Soleil acrobats dangled from the stage to a rendition of Lean on Me performed by The Tenors, with the musical accompaniment done by ‘The President’s Own’ Marine Band.
And then on Thursday night, the Bidens held a dinner for summit leaders at the Getty Villa, the ornate art museum built by tycoon J. Paul Getty in the Pacific Palisades.
‘I’m proud to share all these pieces of Los Angeles with you,” Biden told those attending the luncheon, which also included Sophie Grégoire Trudeau.
The women were first treated to a brief performance by the Youth Orchestra Los Angeles – or YOLA – inside the wooden, cavernous concert all.
‘It’s beautiful!’ the first lady exclaimed.
They were then taken outside into the sunshine to watch the Torres Martinez Desert Cahuilla Bird Singers, a Native American performing group.
Then they her their meal in the shade.
The food being served was from a mix of cultures: tacos, empanadas, Ethiopian chicken served with injera, a tostada with guacamole, smoked salmon and roe, chicken skewers, pot pies, tomato salad and more.
‘This week has been very special to me as first lady, and you inspired me with all of your convictions and the power of your voices and your desire find the platforms that serve all of your different countries,’ Biden told those gathered.
‘And it’s clear to me that yes, we’re all here because of the love of our husbands, right? But we’re also here because of the love of the work,’ she added.
Biden then impressed upon the group how interconnected they were.
‘Injustice and corruption, poverty and pollution, disease and despair. They aren’t contained by borders. We are all connected, especially in the Americas,’ she said.
‘If one nation is vulnerable to health crisis or poverty, it won’t be long before we see the same problems on our own doorsteps,’ she continued. ‘When one nation embraces democracy, transparency and respect for human rights, it becomes the living proof that governments can deliver for the people that they represent, inspiring others to follow their lead.’
First Lady Jill Biden, sporting bright blue, is captured as President Joe Biden speaks with guests Thursday night at a dinner for the Summit of the Americas taking place at the Getty Villa in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles
President Joe Biden delivers a toast with First Lady Jill Biden seated across from him at Thursday’s dinner for Summit of the Americas leaders, which took place at the Getty Villa
President Joe Biden brings Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in for a hug as the first ladies Sophie Gregoire Trudeau and Jill Biden shake hands
First Lady Jill Biden waves to the crowd at the Hollywood-style opening ceremony of the Summit of the Americas in Los Angeles Wednesday night
First Lady Jill Biden (left) watches the inaugural ceremony alongside Vice President Kamala Harris (right) for the Summit of the Americas in Los Angeles Wednesday night
President Biden has made democracy a signature theme of the U.S.-hosted summit after deciding not to invite the authoritarian leaders of Cuba, Venezuela and Nicaragua, which garnered him a boycott from Mexico’s president and criticism from Argentina and Belize’s leaders.
‘As spouses – you know, I’ve heard this so many times – we aren’t elected, but we serve the people of our countries too,’ Biden continued. ‘We can listen and we can learn from them in a way that few others can.’
‘We are cable girls. We are connectors, right? Yes,’ Biden said, making a rope-like gesture, as translators whispered in some of the women’s ears. ‘That’s what you said yesterday, we are cable girls,’ she said, directing her comment to one of the first ladies.
‘And as Joe said last night politics is personal and it’s about relationships. And it’s been so incredible to me to learn how much we have in common and to find places that we can work together. And that’s what I kept hearing at all of the tables, what can we work on, what can we work on together, our common interests,’ Biden noted.
She ended her brief speech telling the women, ‘may the friendships we build here today, live on long after the summit ends.’
‘All of you are in my heart and I hope that our paths cross soon and often,’ she said.
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