Photo: AP

Today the Washington Post was invited to preview the White House State Dinner, which will honor the leaders of five Nordic nations Friday evening. What they’ve done to Obama, I can’t say. But from what I can see, based solely on this review, we’re going to be at war soon.

The party, which has not yet begun, is a clear act of aggression against the Nordics comprised of dozens of small but unmistakable slights like cheap-looking chairs:

The White House on Thursday previewed the decor and menu for Friday evening’s black-tie affair, and several reporters couldn’t help but notice that the sculptural white seating displayed under the chandeliers looked like it could have been a bargain buy from the value-price, high-design Swedish superstore’s aisles.

Worse yet—no tablecloths:

No billowing swirls of brocade that usually connote a Serious Dinner. Just woven runners topping those au courant rustic-wood rectangular tables.

And then, the piece de resistance:

And hey, in addition to the sleek decor, the after-dinner entertainment, pop singer Demi Lovato, has a young-skewing demographic.

A message has been sent.