Trumps, Macrons dine at Mount Vernon

April 23, 2018 Community News

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President Donald Trump, First Lady Melania Trump and their two French counterparts — President Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte — flew from the White House to the Mount Vernon estate Monday, marking the first visit by a president and foreign leader to the historic estate since 2007.

A pair of Marine MV-22 Osprey tilt-rotor aircraft were seen landing on the bowling green on the west side of the estate shortly before the arrival of the presidential entourage on Marine One a little after 6 p.m. 

The Trumps and Macrons were at George Washington’s mansion for dinner ahead of Tuesday’s state dinner at the White House. Dover sole was served as the main course, along with lemon curd and heirloom asparagus, the Associated Press reported. Lemon ricotta agnolotti was the first course, and dessert consisted of chocolate soufflé and cherry vanilla ice cream, according to the AP.

Despite the presence of Fairfax County Police officers along Old Mount Vernon Road, and Mount Vernon staff monitoring the traffic circle in front of The Shops at Mount Vernon, the general atmosphere was low-key. Vehicle traffic was close to normal for the end of rush hour, and only a few curious onlookers slowed down to see what was going on or lurked near the Texas Gate — the primary entrance to the historic grounds. The estate itself closed at 1 p.m. in preparation for the VIP visit.

One local resident — a freshman at Mount Vernon High School still clad in his baseball uniform — watched the Osprey landing with amazement. “I’m only 15, but this is pretty insane living so close to an official with such power,” he said.

“I’ve never seen an aircraft that huge before,” he added.

Meanwhile, Ron Lamb — a lifelong resident of Alexandria whose first job out of high school was at the soda fountain now occupied by the estate’s gift shop — expressed pride about the presidential visit.

“I think it’s a great thing; it’s a great promotion for Mount Vernon,” he said.

The Trumps and Macrons departed the estate a little after 8 p.m., according to media reports.

The last time a U.S. president and a visiting foreign leader came to Mount Vernon was in November 2007, when George W. Bush and French President Nicolas Sarkozy held a meeting at the estate.