Jodie Haydon’s awkward White House blunder

Anthony Albanese’s partner Jodie Haydon made a blunder while being welcomed by US President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden.

Anthony Albanese’s partner Jodie Haydon made a slight blunder while being welcomed by US President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden.

The two power couples were posing for photographers on the South Portico of the White House on Tuesday evening Washington DC time when Ms Haydon chose to stand next to Dr Biden rather than her partner Mr Albanese.

In a short exchange in front of the cameras, Ms Haydon was then directed by the President and Dr Biden to switch places and stand next to Mr Albanese.

Mr Albanese arrived at the White House on Tuesday for a lavish state visit and talks with President Biden on China, Ukraine and the Israel-Hamas conflict.

The pomp-filled trip comes as Washington looks to reinforce its ties with longtime ally Australia as part of a broader strategy to counter Beijing in the Asia-Pacific region.

US President Joe Biden (3rd R), First Lady Jill Biden (2nd R) show Jodie Haydon (R) her position as Australia's Prime Minister Anthony Albanese (L). Picture: Brendan Smialowski / AFP

Mr Albanese arrived on Tuesday. Picture: Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images

“The president’s looking forward to the state visit, there is an awful lot on the plate with this important ally and partner in the region,” US National Security Council spokesman John Kirby told reporters.

Mr Kirby added that “we expect the situation in the Middle East to come up in the conversation.”

The visit is also set to include announcements on technology co-operation — including a US$3.2 billion Microsoft investment focused on artificial intelligence — and on clean energy and “critical minerals” to secure supply chains, he said.

The two leaders will also discuss the landmark AUKUS security pact — which also involves Britain, and would see Australia supplied with nuclear-powered, conventionally-armed submarines.

Mr Albanese is meanwhile seeking to keep President Biden focused on Australia’s neighbourhood while the Israel-Hamas and Ukraine conflicts rage on the other side of the world.

“It will be an important visit,” he said Sunday before leaving. “The alliance between Australia and the United States is central to Australia’s foreign policy.”

The official state visit begins on Wednesday with talks with Biden in the Oval Office and a joint press conference in the Rose Garden.

Albanese will then be honoured with a state dinner on the South Lawn of the White House.

However a planned performance by iconic rock band the B-52s has been cancelled due to the “sorrow and pain” of the Israel-Hamas conflict, Dr Biden said Tuesday.

‘Important time’

President Biden invited Mr Albanese after the US president was forced to cancel a scheduled visit to Australia in May at the last minute and return to Washington to work on a deal to avoid a catastrophic US default.

Washington has been boosting its ties with Australia in recent years. “It’s very important that we remain focused on the Indo Pacific region,” the Australian premier told a news conference on Sunday, using the allies’ term for the Asia-Pacific region.

While trying to counter China, both countries are also trying to stabilise relations with the world’s second biggest economy.

Mr Albanese announced on the eve of the trip that he would visit China in early November for talks with President Xi Jinping. President Biden meanwhile may meet Mr Xi at a summit in San Francisco between November 11 and 17.

President Biden invited Mr Albanese after the US president was forced to cancel. Picture: Brendan Smialowski / AFP

But Ukraine and the Middle East are also set to come up, with both Washington and Canberra providing military aid for Kyiv’s fight against the Russian invasion.

“We believe that there’s no more important time than now to have this visit with the Australians,” White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters on Monday.

She said it was vital to “demonstrate our strength and partnership … as we are continuing to see the invasion that continues in Ukraine.” The political chaos in Washington, where the US Congress is paralysed by feuding Republicans’ inability to elect a new speaker, will also come up.

Mr Albanese is due to visit Congress, and said he would be “very supportive” of the $106 billion security package that President Biden is asking politicians to pass — which includes Ukraine funding and money for the AUKUS pact.

Rockers B-52s dropped from dinner

Iconic rock band the B-52s will no longer perform at a White House dinner for Australia’s premier due to the “sorrow” of the Israel-Hamas conflict, Dr Jill Biden said Tuesday.

The band, best known for the 1989 hit “Love Shack”, was scheduled to play at the state dinner.

“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, and we have decided to make adjustments to the entertainment portion of the evening,” Jill Biden told reporters.

The New Wave band, named after a US bomber aircraft but more famous for their beehive hairdos, will still attend the state dinner but as guests, she added.

Presidential military bands will provide “instrumental music” instead.

Dr Biden made the announcement during a preview for the dinner, which will feature a guest chef, dishes including sarsaparilla-braised short ribs and design featuring US and Australian elements.