White House to honor Italy with likely the last state dinner for the Obama administration

The White House will say “ciao, friends!” at a state dinner for Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi and his wife, Agnese Landini, on Oct. 18. The black-tie affair will be the 14th, and likely the last, for the Obama administration.

White House press secretary Josh Earnest on Monday called Renzi’s visit “an opportunity to recognize the depth and breadth of our relationship with Italy and exchange views on the future of Europe,” although he didn’t mention fine Italian cuisine or the sure-to-be-glittery guest list as reasons to throw the most formal of White House dinners for our favorite boot-shaped nation.