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President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama pose for a photo with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Sophie Grégoire Trudeau at the North Portico of the White House in Washington Donovan Smith Hat , Thursday, March 10, 2016, as they arrive for a state dinner. (AP PhotoPablo Martinez Monsivais) President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama pose for a photo with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Sophie Grégoire Trudeau at the North Portico of the White House in Washington, Thursday, March 10, 2016, as they arrive for a state dinner. (AP PhotoPablo Martinez Monsivais) President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama wait to greet Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Sophie Grégoire Trudeau at the North Portico of the White House in Washington, Thursday Vernon Hargreaves III Hat , March 10, 2016, for a state dinner. (AP PhotoJ. Scott Applewhite) President Barack Obama, right, waves with from left, Sophie Grégoire Trudeau, first lady Michelle Obama, and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, as they pose for a photograph at the White House during the State Dinner in Washington Chris Godwin Hat , Thursday, March 10, 2016. (AP PhotoJacquelyn Martin) President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama greet Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Sophie Grégoire Trudeau at the North Portico of the White House in Washington, Thursday, March 10, 2016, for a state dinner. (AP PhotoJ. Scott Applewhite) First lady Michelle Obama and Sophie Grégoire-Trudeau, wife of Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, sing along with school children during a program at the U.S. Institute of Peace in Washington Justin Evans Hat , Thursday, March 10, 2016, to highlight Let Girls Learn efforts and raise awareness for global girl's education. (AP PhotoCliff Owen) First lady Michelle Obama and Sophie Grégoire-Trudeau, wife of Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, participate in a program at the U.S. Institute of Peace in Washington, Thursday, March 10, 2016 O. J. Howard Hat , to highlight Let Girls Learn efforts and raise awareness for global girl's education. (AP PhotoCliff Owen) President Barack Obama, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, first lady Michelle Obama and Sophie Grégoire, wave from the White House balcony, Thursday March 10, 2016 in Washington. Trudeau hopes to strengthen U.S.-Canada ties during his debut visit to the White House. (AP PhotoPablo Martinez Monsivais)
WASHINGTON — Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau brought "Trudeaumania" to America on Thursday and the verdict was a resounding thumbs-up.


"Breath of fresh air," ''impressive" and "very impressive" was how some of the guests at a splashy White House state dinner in Canada's honor described the country's new leader. Trudeau is the boyish-looking, 44-year-old son of a former Canadian prime minister.


"He's cool," said actor Michael J. Fox Carlton Davis Hat , who was born in Edmonton. Fox declared himself a fan of Trudeau's father, Pierre Trudeau, whom he described as the "coolest world leader going. He seems to be pretty cool, too," Fox said of the younger Trudeau.


"When I lived in Canada, Pierre Trudeau was my prime minister for 14 years and he's my hero," said actor Mike Myers, who sported a head of snow white hair for his first White House state dinner, the first for Canada in nearly 20 years. "Now I'm thrilled to have his son as my prime minister. I think it's going to be a great time for Canada and a great time for Canadian-U.S. relations."


More than 170 guests sporting tuxedos and designer gowns filed in for dinner in the East Room Vita Vea Hat , which was transformed by the addition of cascading arrangements of blooming orchids, hydrangeas and amaranth in shades of green and white intended to evoke the coming of spring — much like Trudeau's election in October has ushered in a new season in Canadian politics.


"I'm extremely proud of Canada," said actress Sandra Oh, formerly of "Grey's Anatomy," who was born in Ottawa, the Canadian capital. "Obviously, he carries the legacy of one of our greatest prime ministers so I'm extremely excited to meet him."


Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., said he was not the least bit surprised by the hubbub over Trudeau; the senator lives about an hour away from the border.


"He's a breath of fresh air Lavonte David Hat ," said Leahy.


The guest list featured a hefty dose of Canadian star power from actors Fox, Myers, Oh and Ryan Reynolds, along with "Saturday Night Live" creator Lorne Michaels. Professional sports were represented by the U.S. hockey and basketball commissioners, along with retired NBA player Grant Hill and his wife, Tamia, a Canadian singer. Leahy and a few other Democratic senators were joined by Republicans Susan Collins of Maine and Orrin Hatch of Utah.


Like at previous state dinners, political donors made the guest list, too. Adam Silver Gerald McCoy Hat , commissioner of the National Basketball Association, contributed $3,500 to Obama's 2012 re-election campaign and $2,700 more recently to Hillary Clinton's 2016 presidential run.


Longtime Obama supporter Irwin Jacobs, founder of the Qualcomm tech firm, also attended. Jacobs gave more than $2 million to a "super" political action committee supporting the president's re-election. The La Jolla, Calif., billionaire also gave nearly $23,000 to Obama's campaign and to the Democratic Party.


First lady Michelle Obama turned again to one of her favorite designers Mike Evans Hat , Jason Wu, who dressed her in a strapless midnight blue floral jacquard gown with asymmetrical draping. Taiwan-born Wu was raised in Canada. Trudeau's wife wore a bright purple dress with coral flower trim by Canadian designer Lucian Matis, who immigrated from Romania.


Daughters Malia and Sasha attended their first state dinner. Malia, 17, sat with Oh and Sasha, 14, sat with Reynolds and his wife, actress Blake Lively. Mrs. Obama sat with Fox.