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Reality TV wannabes gatecrash the White House and put it on Facebook
Paul Thompson, in Washington26.11.09
White House officials faced embarrassment today after it was revealed a pair of aspiring reality TV stars gatecrashed President Barack Obama's first state dinner.
Secret Service chiefs have launched an investigation into how the couple managed to get into one of the most secure places on earth.
Tareq and Michaele Salahi even posted photos of themselves inside the White House on their Facebook page as they mingled with vice-president Joe Biden and Mr Obama's top aide Rahm Emanuel.
The couple are due to appear early next year in the reality series The Real Housewives of DC and have had a camera crew trailing them for weeks. White House officials admitted the couple were not invited and their names not on the guest list for the state dinner in honour of India prime minister Manmohan Singh.
The Washington Post said it was the first time in modern history that anyone had managed to gatecrash a White House dinner.
Secret Service spokesman Ed Donovan said the president and his guests were not under any threat.
But he confirmed that the Secret Service, who are responsible for the President's safety, are looking into a possible security breach.
“Everyone who enters the White House grounds goes through magnetometers and several other levels of screenings,” said Mr Donovan. “No one was under any risk or threat.”
They were shown into the lower hallway before going to the East Room for a cocktail reception.
Photos on their Facebook page showed the smiling couple with Slumdog Millionaire composer AR Rahman and TV presenter Robin Roberts.
White House officials said they did not sit down for the dinner at which names were on tables for the 300 guests.
Former model Michaele is well known on the social circuit. She and her husband run a vineyard in Virginia and stage America's Polo Cup every year.
The Real Housewives of DC centres on rich women who spend most of their time shopping or having cosmetic procedures.
Reader views (2)
Welcome to the 21st century. We may have magnetometers, but traditional security measures, such as what was once quaintly known as "the guest list", have been forgotten.
- Bloke, Lambeth
And people have conspiracy theories about 9/11? It is in fact just incompetence.
- Frank, Home Counties, England.
