Story highlights President Trump calls for unity

Lawmakers and their families picnic on the South Lawn

Washington (CNN) Lawmakers took a rare break from bitter partisan politics and went to the White House Thursday evening for a good old-fashioned picnic.

President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump hosted the Congressional Picnic, a bipartisan, annual event on the South Lawn aimed at bringing members of Congress, their families and members of the administration together for a casual, lighthearted evening.

"We've gotten to know many of you over the last weeks and months, and developed many friendships with politicians," Trump said in brief remarks to lawmakers. "Can you believe it? Some really great people, I have to say, mostly. Mostly. A couple of bad ones, but that's OK."

Guests milled in and out of tents with yellow-and-white awnings much like those at the President's Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida. A casually-dressed Reince Priebus, White House chief of staff, circulated with his family.

Fresh off a trip from Jerusalem and the West Bank, Jared Kushner strolled in from the West Wing as the US Marine band was concluding its rendition of "Til There Was You" from "The Music Man." He chatted with lawmakers. His wife, senior adviser Ivanka Trump, doted on her children as she greeted lawmakers.

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