Joe Biden turns state dinner India's Modi into a family affair with Hunter and ... trends now

President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden welcomed Indian Prime Minister  Narendra Modi for a lavish state dinner on Thursday that included many members of the Biden family: Hunter and his wife Melissa, Naomi and her new husband Peter Neal, and daughter Ashley.

The glamorous event was overshadowed as Modi defended his regime's record on human rights and Biden faced pressure from his own Democrats to confront the prime minister on it.

At a time the White House is seeking to counter China's influence in the Indo-Pacific, Biden, who campaigned for democracy over autocracy, had to balance his desire to counter Beijing with Modi's growing iron fist. 

He's doing that by courting Modi with a spectacular state dinner. The approximately 400 guests were dining in a glass pavilion decorated in green and saffron on a meal planned to cater to the vegetarian Modi.

Those guests include a lot of Bidens; two relatives of Robert F. Kennedy Jr.; who is challenging Biden for the Democratic presidential nomination; fashion designers Reem Acra and Ralph Lauren; several lawmakers including Speaker Kevin McCarthy; but a notable lack of celebrities. Director M. Night Shyamalan was one of the few bold-faced names from Hollywood.

'Great,' Naomi Biden said of married life as she and husband Peter Neal arrived for the event. The two married in the White House last November. 

Violinist Joshua Bell admitted to being a little nervous before performing at the dinner. He had to sneak out of the dining 30 minutes before it began in order to warm up.

'I wish I could play first and then drink a little wine,' he said.

Modi's visit - meant to shore up U.S.-Indian relations under the shadow of China's growing influence in the Indo-Pacific - was overshadowed by questions about Modi's record of clamping down on human rights and press freedom in his home country.

Modi's day in Washington began with a lavish welcome ceremony on the South Lawn, where the drizzle didn't dampen the enthusiasim. Around 7,000 guests were on hand to shout: 'Modi, Modi.'

'I've long believed that the relationship between the United States in India is one of them will be one of the defining relationships with 21st century,' Biden said as he welcomed Modi to the White House in an elaborate ceremony on the South Lawn that included a military salute and the Fife and Drum Corps.