President Obama hosted the closed-press event at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New York. He has been rebuked in the media for not holding bilateral meetings on the sidelines of the UN meeting, and there was no confabbing during the reception, either, according to Deputy National Security Advisor Ben Rhodes. He advised reporters today that "nothing of particular note" occurred over the canapes and champagne.
"Generally, what happens at the reception is there is a photo line where the President is able to greet foreign leaders, take a picture with them, exchange a few words," Rhodes said. "He did that, but I don't have any particular readouts."
The photo with President Karzai was today's Photo of the Day on the White House website.
President Obama was accompanied by First Lady Michelle Obama at the reception. She who wore a sparkling black dress by Tunisian-born French couturier Azzedine Alaia. Above, in this White House photo, they are in the reception photo-receiving line with The Right Honorable William Hague MP, Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs for the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
The President and Mrs. Obama's 24-hour visit to the Big Apple included taping ABC chat show The View, as well as the President addressing the General Assembly and speaking at the Clinton Global Initiative.
Senior Policy Advisor for Healthy Food Initiatives Sam Kass was at the Clinton Global Initiative, where he unveiled a new report on physical fitness.
The President returned to the White House late on Tuesday afternoon.
*Top photo by Pete Souza/White House; second by Sonya N. Hebert/White House
