White House’s Kenya state dinner guest list includes LeVar Burton, Roger Goodell and the Clintons
CNN
The invitation list for Thursday’s White House state dinner includes celebrities, politicians, and allies of the president, as President Joe Biden and first lady Dr. Jill Biden roll out the red carpet for Kenyan President William Ruto and first lady Rachel Ruto.
The invitation list for Thursday’s White House state dinner includes celebrities, politicians, and allies of the president, as President Joe Biden and first lady Dr. Jill Biden roll out the red carpet for Kenyan President William Ruto and first lady Rachel Ruto. Former President Bill Clinton, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, actor LeVar Burton, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries are among the distinguished guests arriving for the official state dinner. A state visit is among the highest diplomatic tools a White House can employ to honor a top ally, with the meticulously planned event arriving as Biden seeks to emphasize the strong alliance between the two countries. “There is a bright light at the White House tonight,” Biden said to the Kenyan president during his toast at the state dinner. “Jill and I are honored to have you here.” He then joked that “many members of the African diaspora” were at Thursday’s black-tie event, including former President Barack Obama who “just left.” Biden added that Obama has been “very gracious” and met with Ruto earlier Thursday. The former president attended a reception in the Blue Room prior to the state dinner and stopped into the dinner area briefly, according to his office. Obama, whose father was born in Kenya, visited the country as president in 2015 and returned in 2018 after leaving office.