LeVar Burton, Lester Holt and More Luminaries Attend State Dinner for Kenya's President and First Lady — See the Photos

byGlobal Outlook -May 23, 2024

The White House pulled out all the stops to welcome President William Ruto of Kenya and his wife, First Lady Rachel Ruto.

On Thursday, May 23, luminaries from the world of politics, cultures and the arts arrived for an official State Dinner at the residence of President Joe Biden and First Lady Dr. Jill Biden.

Former presidents Bill Clinton and Barack Obama were also in attendance, as was Vice President Kamala Harris, Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff and members of the cabinet.

Other notable attendees included actor LeVar Burton and his wife Stephanie, journalist Lester Holt and his wife Carol, civil rights leader Al Sharpton and his girlfriend Aisha McShaw, and country singer Brad Paisley and his wife Kimberly.

Paisley performed at the event.

Check out to see all the State Dinner arrivals below:

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Kenya's First Lady Rachel Ruto, Kenya's President William Ruto, President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden

US President Joe Biden (2nd R), First Lady Jill Biden (R), President William Ruto ( 2nd L) and First Lady Rachel Ruto — US President Joe Biden (2nd R), First Lady Jill Biden (R), President William Ruto ( 2nd L) and First Lady Rachel Ruto of Kenya arrive for a State Dinner at the White House in Washington, DC, on May 23, 2024.
ROBERTO SCHMIDT/AFP VIA GETTY

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Kenya's First Lady Rachel Ruto, President Joe Biden, and First Lady Jill Biden

William Ruto, Kenya's president, from left, Rachel Ruto, Kenya's first lady, US President Joe Biden, and First Lady Jill Biden at the Grand Staircase of the White House ahead of a state dinner in Washington, DC, US, on Thursday, May 23, 2024. An American president is hosting a state visit for an African leader for the first time in 16 years, as the world's biggest economy struggles to build influence on a continent forging closer relations beyond Washington's top competitors China and Russia — Rachel Ruto, President Joe Biden, and First Lady Jill Biden at the state dinner.
AL DRAGO/BLOOMBERG VIA GETTY

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Vice President Kamala Harris and Douglas Emhoff

WASHINGTON, DC - MAY 23: U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris and second gentleman Douglas C. Emhoff arrive for the State Dinner at the White House on May 23, 2024 in Washington, DC. U.S. President Joe Biden is hosting Kenyan President William Ruto and his wife Rachel Ruto for a state visit, which included a bilateral meeting, a joint press conference and state dinner. — Vice President Kamala Harris and Douglas Emhoff arrive at the State Dinner for Kenyan President William Ruto and his wife Rachel Ruto.
TASOS KATOPODIS/GETTY

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Bill Clinton and Hillary Clinton

William Jefferson Clinton, 42nd President of the United States and The Honorable Hillary Rodham Clinton, 67th Secretary of State of the United States arrive for the State Dinner at the White House on May 23, 2024 in Washington, DC. U.S. President Joe Biden is hosting Kenyan President William Ruto and his wife Rachel Ruto for a state visit, which included a bilateral meeting, a joint press conference and state dinner. RutoÃ¢Â€Â™s visit is the first official state visit to the White House by a leader from an African country since 2008. — Bill Clinton and Hillary Clinton arrive at the State Dinner for Kenyan President William Ruto and his wife Rachel Ruto.
TASOS KATOPODIS/GETTY

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Barack Obama

Mandatory Credit: Photo by Al Drago/POOL/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock (14505126i) Former US President Barack Obama (C) greets Antony Blinken (R), US secretary of state, during a state dinner at the White House in Washington, DC, USA, 23 May 2024. An American president is hosting a state visit for an African leader for the first time in 16 years, as the world's biggest economy struggles to build influence on a continent forging closer relations beyond Washington's top competitors China and Russia. — Barack Obama at Thursday's state dinner.
AL DRAGO/POOL/EPA-EFE/SHUTTERSTOCK

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LeVar Burton and Stephanie Cozart Burton

Actor LeVar Burton, left, and Stephanie Cozart Burton arrive to attend a state dinner in honor of Kenya's president William Ruto hosted by US President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden at the White House in Washington, DC, US, on Thursday, May 23, 2024. An American president is hosting a state visit for an African leader for the first time in 16 years, as the world's biggest economy struggles to build influence on a continent forging closer relations beyond Washington's top competitors China and Russia. — LeVar Burton and Stephanie Cozart Burton arrive at the State Dinner for Kenyan President William Ruto and his wife Rachel Ruto.
TIERNEY L. CROSS/BLOOMBERG VIA GETTY

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Carol Hagen-Holt and Lester Holt

Journalist Lester Holt right, and Carol Hagen-Holt arrive to attend a state dinner in honor of Kenya's president William Ruto hosted by US President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden at the White House in Washington, DC, US, on Thursday, May 23, 2024. An American president is hosting a state visit for an African leader for the first time in 16 years, as the world's biggest economy struggles to build influence on a continent forging closer relations beyond Washington's top competitors China and Russia. Photographer: Tierney L. Cross/Bloomberg via Getty Images — Carol Hagen-Holt and Lester Holt arrive at the State Dinner for Kenyan President William Ruto and his wife Rachel Ruto.
TIERNEY L. CROSS/BLOOMBERG VIA GETTY

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Wilmer Valderrama and Amanda Pacheco Rhinesmith

WASHINGTON, DC - MAY 23: Wilmer Valderrama and Amanda Pacheco Rhinesmith arrive for the State Dinner at the White House on May 23, 2024 in Washington, DC. U.S. President Joe Biden is hosting Kenyan President William Ruto and his wife Rachel Ruto for a state visit, which included a bilateral meeting, a joint press conference and state dinner. RutoÃ¢Â€Â™s visit is the first official state visit to the White House by a leader from an African country since 2008. — Wilmer Valderrama and Amanda Pacheco Rhinesmith arrive at the State Dinner for Kenyan President William Ruto and his wife Rachel Ruto.
TASOS KATOPODIS/GETTY

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Tom Bernthal and Sheryl Sandberg

Sheryl Sandberg, former chief operating officer of Meta Platforms Inc., right, and Tom Bernthal arrive to attend a state dinner in honor of Kenya's president William Ruto hosted by US President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden at the White House in Washington, DC, US, on Thursday, May 23, 2024. An American president is hosting a state visit for an African leader for the first time in 16 years, as the world's biggest economy struggles to build influence on a continent forging closer relations beyond Washington's top competitors China and Russia. Photographer — Tom Bernthal and Sheryl Sandberg arrive at the State Dinner for Kenyan President William Ruto and his wife Rachel Ruto.
TIERNEY L. CROSS/BLOOMBERG VIA GETTY

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Brad Paisley and Kimberly Williams-Paisley

Musician Brad Paisley, left, and Kimberly Williams-Paisley arrive to attend a state dinner in honor of Kenya's president William Ruto hosted by US President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden at the White House in Washington, DC, US, on Thursday, May 23, 2024. An American president is hosting a state visit for an African leader for the first time in 16 years, as the world's biggest economy struggles to build influence on a continent forging closer relations beyond Washington's top competitors China and Russia. — Brad Paisley and Kimberly Williams-Paisley arrive at the State Dinner for Kenyan President William Ruto and his wife Rachel Ruto.
TIERNEY L. CROSS/BLOOMBERG VIA GETTY

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Reverend Al Sharpton and Aisha McShaw

Reverend Al Sharpton, founder and president of the National Action Network, right, and Aisha McShaw arrive to attend a state dinner in honor of Kenya's president William Ruto hosted by US President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden at the White House in Washington, DC, US, on Thursday, May 23, 2024. An American president is hosting a state visit for an African leader for the first time in 16 years, as the world's biggest economy struggles to build influence on a continent forging closer relations beyond Washington's top competitors China and Russia. — Reverend Al Sharpton and Aisha McShaw arrive at the State Dinner for Kenyan President William Ruto and his wife Rachel Ruto.
TIERNEY L. CROSS/BLOOMBERG VIA GETTY

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Huma Abedin and Alex Soros

US historian Alex Soros and political staffer Huma Abedin arrives at the Booksellers Room of the White House on the occasion of the State Dinner with the Kenyan president at the White House in Washington, DC, on May 23, 2024. (Photo by SAUL LOEB / AFP) (Photo by SAUL LOEB/AFP via Getty Images) — Huma Abedin and Alex Soros arrive at the State Dinner for Kenyan President William Ruto and his wife Rachel Ruto.
SAUL LOEB/AFP VIA GETTY

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Melinda French Gates and Rory Gates

Philantropist Melinda French Gates and Rory Gates arrive at the Booksellers Room of the White House on the occasion of the State Dinner with the Kenyan president at the White House in Washington, DC, on May 23, 2024. (Photo by SAUL LOEB / AFP) (Photo by SAUL LOEB/AFP via Getty Images) — Melinda French Gates and Rory Gates arrive at the State Dinner for Kenyan President William Ruto and his wife Rachel Ruto.
SAUL LOEB/AFP VIA GETTY

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Paul Keary and Ursula Burns

Ursula Burns, chairwoman of Teneo Holdings LLC, right, and Paul Keary, arrive to attend a state dinner in honor of Kenya's president William Ruto hosted by US President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden at the White House in Washington, DC, US, on Thursday, May 23, 2024. An American president is hosting a state visit for an African leader for the first time in 16 years, as the world's biggest economy struggles to build influence on a continent forging closer relations beyond Washington's top competitors China and Russia. Photographer: Tierney L. Cross/Bloomberg via Getty Images — Paul Keary and Ursula Burns arrive at the State Dinner for Kenyan President William Ruto and his wife Rachel Ruto.
TIERNEY L. CROSS/BLOOMBERG VIA GETTY

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Pete Buttigieg and Chasten Glezman

Pete Buttigieg, US secretary of transportation, left, and Chasten Glezman Buttigieg arrive to attend a state dinner in honor of Kenya's president William Ruto hosted by US President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden at the White House in Washington, DC, US, on Thursday, May 23, 2024. An American president is hosting a state visit for an African leader for the first time in 16 years, as the world's biggest economy struggles to build influence on a continent forging closer relations beyond Washington's top competitors China and Russia. Photographer: Tierney L. Cross/Bloomberg via Getty Images — Pete Buttigieg and Chasten Glezman arrive at the State Dinner for Kenyan President William Ruto and his wife Rachel Ruto.
TIERNEY L. CROSS/BLOOMBERG VIA GETTY