After state dinners celebrating Canada, Germany, the U.K., and China, Italy was recognized on Tuesday during the Obama administration's final state dinner.
In remarks to guests, President Obama said the evening reminded him that "American democracy has been graced by the touch of Italy. We look at the dome of the U.S. Capitol and marvel at the touch of Brumidi. Yet some days, our presidential campaigns can seem like Dante's Inferno." Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi joked that the tomatoes in Italy are better, and thanked first lady Michelle Obama for the stirring speech she gave last week about Donald Trump's comments about women.
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