Photos: World leaders party at rain-soaked Legion of Honor Museum in San Francisco

By Annie GausPublished Nov. 16, 2023 • 10:49pm

A little rain couldn’t dampen the good time at San Francisco’s Legion of Honor museum Thursday night.

A heavy downpour, complete with rare lightning strikes above San Francisco Bay, was the prelude to a swanky dinner hosted by President Joe Biden, who toasted presidents, prime ministers and other dignitaries from across the world after a busy day at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit.

India's Minister of Textiles, Minister of Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal smiles while extending his hand to greet someone off screen while and his spouse Seema Goyal by his side. — India's Minister of Textiles, Minister of Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal, right, and his spouse Seema Goyal, left, arrive for the APEC leaders and spouses dinner on Thursday. | Source: Josh Edelson/AFP/Getty Images

A service member stands in the rain — A service member stands guard as world leaders gather at Legion of Honor for a dinner during Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation week in San Francisco on Thursday. | Source: Justin Katigbak/The San Francisco Standard/POOL

A steady drizzle turned into a torrential downpour around 6:45 p.m. Biden’s motorcade arrived minutes later. Along the president’s route in the Richmond District, people and families waved American flags and cheered.

Two rows of military servicemen in white-gloved regalia—ceremonial swords and rifles included—stood in stoic formation awaiting the dignitaries’ arrival. Members of the press were utterly drenched as officials handed out trash bags for cover. An aide swept away deep pools of water that collected on the red carpet.

a State Department aide scrapes pools of water off a red carpet at the Legion of Honor Museum, where world leaders gathered during APEC. — A U.S. State Department aide pushes standing water off the red carpet after heavy rain at the Legion of Honor on Thursday. | Source: Justin Katigbak/The Standard

A military band hailed the leaders’ arrival, one by one. State Department protocol was on full display as Acting Chief of Protocol Ethan Rosenzweig greeted leaders, some with spouses in tow, over the course of more than an hour. Dignitaries were escorted by servicemen carrying umbrellas along a candlelit walkway to an elegantly decorated tent inside the museum grounds.

First Lady of the Philippines, Louise Marcos, right, and President of the Philippines Bongbong Marcos, left, arrives for a dinner with other world leaders at Legion of Honor. — First Lady of the Philippines Louise Araneta-Marcos and President of the Philippines Bongbong Marcos arrive for dinner with other world leaders at the Legion of Honor on Thursday. | Source: Justin Katigbak/The Standard

Guests included Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin. Philippine President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. arrived with his wife, Louise Araneta-Marcos; Vietnamese President Vo Van Thuong was accompanied by his wife, Phan Thi Thanh Tam, and South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol brought his wife, Kim Keon-hee.

Joe Biden speaks to a group of people in a crowded room with signage "APEC 2023" in the background

Malaysia's Primer Minister Anwar Ibrahim arrives at an event with a woman wearing a headscarf walk behind walks him.

South Korea's President Yoon Suk Yeol walks on a red carpet as South Korea's First Lady Kim Keon Hee walks behind him.

Papua New Guinea's Prime Minister James Marape waves into the distance while walking between members of security personnel.

Vietnam's President Vo Van Thuong and his spouse Phan Thi Thanh Tam, dressed in formal wear walks between members of security personnel.

Brunei's Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah buttons up his suit while looking off camera.

A camera crew stands under a tarp to keep dry from the rain during a press event.

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US President Joe Biden makes a toast during the leaders and spouses dinner during the APEC Leaders' Week at the Legion of Honor on Thursday night. | Brendan Smialowski/AFP/Getty Images

Chinese President Xi Jinping was on the guest list, but he was not spotted at the dinner. Dignitaries from Colombia and Japan were also absent.

Acting Chief of Protocol Ethan Rosenzweig, President of South Korea Yoon Suik Yeo, and the First Lady of South Korea, Kim Keon-hee, greet one another at the Legion of Honor museum. — Acting U.S. Chief of Protocol Ethan Rosenzweig greets South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol and his wife, Kim Keon-hee, at the Legion of Honor. | Source: Justin Katigbak/The Standard

While the men wore suits, many women arrived in style. Phan Thi Thanh Tam wore a teal high-necked gown. South Korea’s first lady wore a black dress, a shimmering white blazer and iridescent pumps. Sophie Chang, wife of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company founder Morris Chang, donned a red blouse, a long embellished black skirt and sneakers.

President of Peru Dian Boluarte arrives at the Legion of Honor for a dinner during APEC week. — President of Peru Dina Boluarte arrives for a dinner with other world leaders at the Legion of Honor. | Source: Justin Katigbak/The Standard

The dinner was held in a tent in a large courtyard of the museum, and with the rain, it was drafty inside.

The dinner group was seated at a long table on one side of the courtyard, and an orchestra played. The president offered a toast to the leaders seated at the dinner, noting that the gathering came alongside “an inflection point in history.”

Indonesian President Joko Widodo shakes hands with a state department officials at the Legion of Honor as military servicemen stand guard. — President of the Republic of Indonesia Joko Widodo arrives at Legion of Honor for a during Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation week in San Francisco on Thursday. | Source: Justin Katigbak/The Standard

“We had a great day, great meetings today,” said Biden, who made a speech earlier in the day at the APEC CEO Summit. “But tonight it’s about breaking bread together, and we know one another a little better after tonight.”

Biden quoted an Irish poet, Eavan Boland, saying, “Remind us again now that history changes, that it belongs to us, it belongs to all of us.”