Pomp, pageantry and open arms to welcome Morrisons

No moment in Washington is infused with as much pomp as the ceremonial welcome to the White House which awaits ScoMo.

The thudding sound of 19 cannon shots will ring across the lawns of the White House on Friday (9am US time, 11pm AEST) as Advance Australia Fair is played by a US military band in front of Donald Trump and Scott Morrison.

Americans love pomp and ceremony and no moment in Washington is infused with as much pomp as the ceremonial welcome to the White House which awaits the Prime Minister.

This is only the second ceremonial welcome Trump has bestowed on a foreign leader, the first being French President Emmanuel Macron in 2017, and it is the first for an Australian prime minister since John Howard in 2006.

The welcome itself has barely changed for decades, a colourful explosion of pageantry featuring the Fife and Drum Corps walking past the leaders as they play flutes and snare drums in revolutionary war-era costumes.

The ceremony will begin with Scott and Jenny Morrison being driven to the entrance of the White House on the South Lawn where the President and first lady Melania Trump will be waiting.

The leaders and their wives will exchange greetings before the inspection of the military ceremonial guard and the playing of each country’s national anthem, as well as Hail to the Chief.

With the White House as the backdrop on one side and the Washington Monument on the other side, the two leaders then give a brief introductory speech before they climb the stairs to the balcony and wave back at the assembled guests on the lawn and tourists watching on in the distance.

Mr Trump will then usher Mr Morrison into the Blue Room where he will sign the White House guest book before moving to the Red Room where they will exchange diplomatic gifts.

The two leaders and their wives will then retire to the Oval Office when, for a brief mad scramble, the press will be allowed in.

Then the press is cleared out and the real business of diplomacy begins.