Remembering a dignified White House.

[sinkingfeeling]

I happened upon Pete Sousa's photo book, "The West Wing and Beyond" in a discount bin today. If I could have gotten it back to Costa Rica, I would have bought it. The $50 book was just $6.99. As I flipped through it, this photo really caught my eye and I almost cried. It was the State Dinner held in the Rose Garden, honoring Chancellor Merkel, June 7, 2011.

[greatauntoftriplets]

1. Now that's true elegance.

I love the lacy design being projected on the White House exterior.

[electric_blue68]

8. So busy lookng at how big the rose garden seemed, w all those tables I didn't notice that.

Nice catch!

[greatauntoftriplets]

18. It's gorgeous.

My original thought is that it was a reflection of leaves on the trees. Then I looked closer. Very creative and effective mood setting. Excellent stage setting and use of a beautiful space that likely smelled heavenly compared to a marble and gold ballroom.

[marble falls]

2. Stop torturing yourself. It's all going to be restored, including the Rose Garden. Concrete comes up easily enough.

[Totally Tunsie]

16. Oh, how I love the sound of jackhammers in the morning!

[marble falls]

30. Especially when it takes down garbage.

[Lovie777]

3. The WH and it's occupants in most part were dignified..............

The United States of America was respected and feared. Now it's a dangerous laughing stock in the world, greed, stealing, fraudulent, liars while gaslighting against anyone who does toll the line.

Treating the USA's citizens like trash, taking life essentials from them while the cost of living is rising.

I hope shithole have a miserable birthday.

[stage left]

25. Wouldn't it be wonderful

If he face planted in his Birthday cake.

[sheshe2]

4. Thank you for this. 🥲

[Tasmanian Devil]

5. Odd ..

I hate to complain, but fyi the image doesn't load for me. When I debug it and
try and load the picture URL ... (with a : replacing the space)

https //live.staticflickr.com/65535/55320739271_82381c6847_b.jpg

returns "These aren't the droids you're looking for."

I have no idea why it was working for others and seems busted now ((

[niyad]

22. All I got is a little green broken box.

[Figarosmom]

6. This is what we should have expected, I guess

White trash elected white trash who brought in more white trash in every department. Just because they are rich doesn't mean they have culture or taste. That comes from being well read and exposed to culture. The people who are now the ruling class have no time for culture, their entertainment is the stuff epstein provided or the " manly" shit like ultimate fighting and wrestling.

[Deuxcents]

7. Does not surprise me that the Obamas could be so creative and make it an event to remember

[Mme. Defarge]

9. Devastating!

[Grim Chieftain]

10. Trump destroys everything he touches

Everything.

[Norrrm]

11. White House with Trump.... on edit, a more accurate picture

Last edited Sun Jun 7, 2026, 09:48 PM - Edit history (1)

on edit.... a more accurate picture

https://www.gettyimages.co.uk/detail/news-photo/work-continues-on-a-structure-for-the-upcoming-ufc-fight-news-photo/2278437169?adppopup=true

[AverageOldGuy]

14. EVERYTHING . . .

. . . Trump touches turns to shit.

[sop]

17. All that for one night of cage fighting?

The short-fingered vulgarian is literally destroying the White House, the South Lawn will never be the same.

[progressoid]

24. That's fake. AI generated.

Not to say that Drumpf is doing isn't bad. It's just exaggerated.


https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/white-house-ufc-arena-images/

[Norrrm]

26. Thanks

[marble falls]

31. It could be better or worse, but no one from the press is getting into that airspace to take that picture.

[Sanity Claws]

12. More beautiful than any ballroom could be

[AverageOldGuy]

13. The date on this photo raises the question:

Well, acutally, it raises two questions:

1. Who was President in 2011?
2. Did he wear a tan suit to the dinner?

Asking for a friend.

[Norrrm]

20. The evil tan suit

[Totally Tunsie]

32. Obama in a tan suit still takes my breath away...

in a good way. Just don't look left!

[canetoad]

15. LInk to pic is broken for me

It looks spectacular.

[Cha]

19. And, Honorable. ☮️💙🌻🕯️🕊️

[liberalla]

21. That looks like a beautiful event! So glad you posted it here for us to see...

I didn't realize it was so difficult getting books to Costa Rica.

[sinkingfeeling]

27. It's the weight of my suitcase that's the problem. I came with one and

am going back with two. You should see the stuff I'm taking back, including 5 books, medicines, and a meat jaccard.

[niyad]

23. How are you doing? When do you go back?

[sinkingfeeling]

28. Still here another 10 days. Have major medical test on Wednesday.

[niyad]

29. Vibes for best possible outcome.