WASHINGTON — The president greeted a star of the Oscar-winning film 12 Years a Slave in her native tongue Saturday ahead of the White House Correspondents Association Dinner Saturday night.
A source familiar with the meeting said the president and Mrs. Obama met with a group of A-listers Saturday ahead of the annual confab featuring journalists, politicians, and celebrities.
Among the group were Robert DeNiro, cast members from the hit ABC sitcom Modern Family, and Lupita Nyong'o, who won and Oscar for her performance in 12 Years.
The source said President Obama spoke to Nyong'o in Swahili. All the celebrities were guests of media organizations who bought the roughly $2,000 each tables at the annual dinner.
A White House spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the meeting.