White House State Dinner Guest List in Kenya Includes LeVar Burton, Roger Goodell and the Clintons

CNN
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The guest list for Thursday’s state dinner at the White House 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 one of the most important diplomatic tools a White House can use to honor a top ally, with the meticulously planned event arriving as Biden seeks to highlight the strong alliance between the two countries.

“There is a bright light in the White House tonight,” Biden told the Kenyan president during his state dinner toast. “Jill and I are honored to welcome you here.”

He then joked that “many members of the African diaspora” were in attendance at Thursday’s black-tie event, including former President Barack Obama who “just left.” Biden added that Obama had been “very gracious” and had met with Ruto earlier on Thursday.

The former president attended a reception in the Blue Room before the state dinner and stopped briefly in the dinner room, 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.

Biden added that the United States has “great respect” for Kenya and recalled the moment when former President Jimmy Carter first hosted Kenyan leaders.

He concluded with an Irish toast, saying in part: “Until we meet again, may God hold you in the palm of his hand – to Kenya, to our guests.”

During his toast, Ruto asked attendees to raise a glass to the “continued well-being and long life” of President Biden and the first lady.

Hollywood is also in attendance at Thursday’s dinner — actors Wilmer Valderrama and Sean Penn are among the guests, and Burton told reporters it was his first state dinner.

The dinner will be held in a “transparent pavilion” on the South Lawn, according to the first lady’s office, which will be adorned with more than 1,000 candles. Guests will be served three dishes – the first will be a chilled heirloom tomato soup. The main course of Thursday’s dinner will be a “best of both worlds” duo of butter-poached lobster and smoked beef short ribs, according to White House executive chef Cris Comerford.

Athletic Commissioners Goodell and Silver were among the guests at Thursday evening’s state dinner. The NFL held a talent identification camp in Kenya last year as it sought to expand its “NFL Africa” ​​program, according to a press release at the time. NBA Africa has a “branch office” in Kenya which was opened in November 2023, according to the league.

Philanthropist Melinda French Gates and former Meta COO Sheryl Sandberg are also among the guests at Thursday’s dinner.

Country star Brad Paisley and the Howard Gospel Choir will provide entertainment at this glitzy event. Paisley wore a white cowboy hat as he entered the White House on Thursday evening.

Some members of Congress were also invited to the dinner, including Democratic Reps. Ilhan Omar of Minnesota and Veronica Escobar of Texas, as well as Republican Rep. Michael McCaul of Texas.

The Rev. Al Sharpton was also invited to the dinner and told reporters that “democracy is going to win in 2024” when asked if the president would be re-elected.

CNN’s Bianna Golodryga was a guest at Thursday’s dinner, as were NBC News’ Lester Holt and the Associated Press’ Darlene Superville.

The visit marks the first time a U.S. president has hosted an African leader for a state visit since February 2008, when President George W. Bush hosted the president of Ghana. Thursday’s dinner is the sixth state dinner Biden has hosted since becoming president.

This story has been updated with additional developments.

CNN’s Besty Klein and Kevin Liptak contributed to this report.