Renzi brings cultural delegation to Obama dinner at White House

Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi traveled to Washington for a dinner with President Barack Obama at the White House, accompanied by a delegation of Italian cultural figures. The dinner included a gala meal prepared by chef Mario Batali and a performance by pop singer Gwen Stefani. Renzi's delegation featured four prominent women: Giusi Nicolini, mayor of Lampedusa, known for migrant rescue efforts; Beatrice Vio, a Paralympic fencer who won gold and bronze in Rio; Fabiola Gianotti, physicist and director of CERN, the first woman in that role; and Paola Antonelli, senior curator of architecture and design at MoMA in New York, named among Art Review's 100 most influential people in the art world. The male delegates included Oscar winners Roberto Benigni and Paolo Sorrentino, fashion designer Giorgio Armani, and anti-corruption authority president Raffaele Cantone. The choice of delegates sparked debate, with some critics calling it political propaganda ahead of Italy's December 4 constitutional referendum. The article contrasts Renzi's selection with previous Italian delegations, such as Silvio Berlusconi's inclusion of controversial figures. Renzi's dinner with Obama covered topics including climate change, refugees, terrorism, global security, economic growth, and the future of Europe, as well as NATO forces in Latvia. The article also suggests Renzi's female-heavy delegation may signal support for Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign against Donald Trump.