Dem lawmaker criticizes Biden for ritzy White House State Dinner serving ‘200 Maine lobsters’

A Democratic lawmaker is pushing again on President Biden’s pompous White Home celebration, the place 200 dwell lobsters will likely be served for visitors Thursday throughout a State Dinner with French President Emmanuel Macron.

The night time earlier than the dinner, the place visitors are anticipated to get pleasure from lobster and caviar, Rep. Jared Golden, D-Maine, took to Twitter to induce Biden to satisfy with the lobstermen his administration is “at the moment regulating out of enterprise.”

“If the Biden White Home can prioritize buying 200 Maine lobsters for a elaborate dinner, [Biden] must also take the time to satisfy with the Maine lobstermen his administration is at the moment regulating out of enterprise,” Golden stated in a tweet.

The purple, white, and blue-themed dinner with Macron, France’s first woman Brigitte Macron, and others would be the first state go to Biden has allowed on the White Home since 2021 as different occasions had been canceled as a result of COVID-19 pandemic.

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Golden’s tweet is his newest name on Biden to uphold his guarantees to guard Maine’s lobster trade, particularly amid a brand new dispute with whale conservationists.

The Maine lawmaker launched an announcement in Oct. saying Biden broke his promise to Maine lobstermen.

“In 2020, whereas operating for president, Biden pledged ‘I’ll work to guard the livelihood and security of the fishing group’ in reference to lobstermen. He has but to take a single motion to make good on that pledge,” Golden stated.

“You can’t espouse being a president for working folks whereas concurrently overseeing the destruction of a whole blue-collar fishery and its group’s heritage and lifestyle,” he added. “I implore you to acknowledge and oppose these proposed proper whale conservation measures and to satisfy with Maine’s congressional delegation in addition to leaders of the lobster group to seek out frequent sense options to make sure that Maine’s lobster and fishing industries and the suitable whales will survive for generations.”

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The continuing lobster debate with conservationists was spurred by reviews Maine’s lobster trade poses a risk to uncommon whales, which may turn out to be entangled in fishing gear. The Marine Stewardship Council and Seafood Watch lately pulled their lobster endorsements over these issues.

Entanglement in gear is without doubt one of the greatest threats to a local whale species, of which there are solely about 340 on the earth, they stated.

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Final month, Complete Meals introduced that it might cease carrying Maine lobsters at a whole bunch of its shops across the nation as a result of these environmentalist issues.

Maine’s politicians, together with Golden, Gov. Janet Mills, Sens. Susan Collins and Angus King and Rep. Chellie Pingree denounced the choice.

“We’re disenchanted by Complete Meals’ determination and deeply pissed off that the Marine Stewardship Council’s suspension of the lobster trade’s certificates of sustainability continues to hurt the livelihoods of hardworking women and men up and down Maine’s coast,” the assertion reads.

PORTLAND, ME – JULY 22: A standard wanting lobster subsequent to a vibrant orange lobster that was caught whereas fishing in deepwater canyons within the Gulf of Maine along with his steersman Brian Skillings Wednesday, July 22, 2015. 
(Gabe Souza/Portland Portland Press Herald through Getty Photographs)

Previous to the controversy, Maine’s lobster trade noticed a growth of success in 2021, when the Division of Marine Assets introduced its lobster harvest was probably the most useful in its historical past.

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“The extraordinary worth earned final yr by Maine lobster harvesters is a transparent reflection of sturdy client confidence within the Maine lobster model and the merchandise and folks it represents,” stated Maine Division of Marine Assets Commissioner Patrick Keliher.

He continued, “Final yr was one for the books and it must be celebrated. However there are lots of challenges forward, and it is vital that fishermen stay engaged in administration discussions that may attempt to make this inventory resilient for future generations.”

The 2021 harvest noticed a 75% enhance in worth over the 2020 complete, the DMR stated.

The day earlier than the White Home dinner, First Girl Jill Biden known as the meal an “expression of welcome and friendship [and] a method to join by means of a language that kind of transcends phrases.”

“We’re so glad to welcome them to the White Home as the primary couple of our oldest ally, France,” she stated.

“As every dish involves the desk, so too does the which means behind it,” Biden continued. “The design of this dinner was impressed by the shared colours of our flags, purple, white and blue, and our frequent values liberty and democracy, equality and fellowship.”

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“These kind the bedrock upon that are enduring friendship was constructed on the tables are vivid purple roses and blue Delphiniums alongside white irises, that are the symbols of our nation’s capital and of France,” she additionally stated. “From photographs on the pavilion partitions to the chandeliers that may cling above us, to the dishes and shows on the tables are symbols and celebrations of the numerous ties that bind our nation collectively.”

She additionally stated the meal included a cheese course, together with Roe River Blue, which gained a 2019 World Cheese Award.

WASHINGTON, DC – NOVEMBER 30: A spot setting on the White Home on November 30, 2022 in Washington, DC. 
(Kevin Dietsch/Getty Photographs)

The White Home meal was ready by White Home Govt Chef Cris Comerford and White Home Govt Pastry Chef Susie Morrison.

Golden most lately gained re-election in a key contest in 2022 towards former Republican Rep. Bruce Poliquin. He additionally beat Republican Dale Crafts in 2020, and first entered workplace by defeating Poliquin, the then-incumbent, in 2018.

Fox Information’ Yael Halon contributed to this report.