WASHINGTON — Dressed in elegant gowns and suits, guests strutted down the red carpet as their arrival was announced at Washington’s most lavish event: a state dinner at the White House.
On Thursday night, President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden welcomed Kenyan President William Ruto and his wife Rachel to the glamorous event filled with pomp and circumstance. State dinners are often seen as a tool of soft diplomacy used to attract leaders of countries with whom they seek a strong partnership.
“We share a strong respect for the history that binds us together,” Biden said as he toasted his guests. Then he quoted former President Jimmy Carter, who in 1980 hosted Kenyan President Daniel arap Moi, as saying: “Neighbors do not share borders, they share beliefs.”
Biden announced Thursday that he will work with Congress to designate Kenya as a “key non-NATO ally” as the United States looks to deepen the 60-year formal US-Kenya partnership. The United States grants this designation to countries that have close and strategic working relationships with the U.S. military and defense civilians.
Ruto’s trip is the first state visit by a Kenyan president to the United States in two decades, and the first by an African leader since 2008. The last African leader to address Congress was Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, who spoke in the House of Representatives in 2006.
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Thursday’s state dinner was attended by about 500 people and was the sixth hosted by Biden.
Throughout the evening, guests enjoyed musical selections by the Howard Gospel Choir, award-winning country music artist Brad Paisley, the U.S. Marine Corps Chamber Orchestra and the Army and Air Force Strings.
What was the decor like at the formal dinner?
American red roses and vibrant purple African orchids were featured throughout the exhibit in a nod to the “unity and friendship” between the United States and Kenya. Glowing candles were displayed along the pavilion’s walls to create a cozy ambiance, while a hanging centerpiece made up of 15,000 reflective metallic overlays sparkled in gold and silver hues.
Invitees, who ranged from business leaders to movie stars to two former presidents, were ushered into a glass pavilion with more than 1,000 glowing candles, where they dined on chilled tomato soup, wood-smoked beef short ribs, and butter. Boiled lobster.
The evening’s decor reflects the first lady’s love of candlelight, which she favors to make guests feel at home, even when they are part of a large group, said Brian Rafanelli, event planner for the evening.
“As guests leave their path is illuminated by our one and only moon,” Biden said while previewing the decor earlier. “I hope they feel the same warmth that I felt during my visit to Kenya.”
What was on the state dinner menu?
The three-course meal, prepared by White House Executive Chef Chris Comerford and White House Executive Pastry Chef Susie Morrison, began with chilled tomato soup, followed by short ribs and butter-poached lobster with a side of baby cabbage and sweet corn mash. . For dessert, guests received a white chocolate basket with banana ganache, raspberries, peaches and lemon zest.
Who are some famous guests at the state dinner?
Former President Barack Obama, whose father was Kenyan, appeared at the event. His name was not previously mentioned in the attendance list. The former president stopped by but did not stay for dinner.
Other guests at the evening included former President Bill Clinton, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, and actor Sean Penn. There were members of Congress and the administration as well as business leaders such as Albert Bourla, CEO of Pfizer.
Gifts for the Kenyan president and his wife
As a formal gift, the President and First Lady presented the Rotos with a set of rocking chairs produced by a family-owned company in Troutman, North Carolina. The wooden rocking chairs have a cane seat, steam-curved back posts, and personalized engravings commemorating the state visit on the armrests.
Biden also presented Ruto with the first edition of Martin Luther King Jr.’s book “Trumpet of Conscience” in a customized leather case with hand-engraved engraving commemorating the state visit. The First Lady presented Rachel Ruto with a custom pearl and peridot necklace from Arizona made by a jeweler in Philadelphia.
Swapna Venugopal Ramaswamy is USA TODAY’s White House correspondent. You can follow her on X, formerly Twitter, @SwapnaVenugopal
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