Jill Biden revealed that country star Brad Paisley will be the entertainment when she and President Joe Biden host their largest state dinner yet on Thursday night.
The first couple will entertain Kenyan President William Ruto, his wife Rachel and 500 guests in a glass pavilion on the South Lawn, with the stars and the Washington Monument visible in the sky.
The Bidens are pulling out all the stops for Kenya’s president after Biden failed to keep his promise to visit sub-Saharan Africa last year. The African leader will lay a wreath at Arlington National Cemetery, hold a meeting in the Oval Office, participate in a joint press conference and convene a meeting with technology leaders.
But the highlight of the visit will be the state dinner. Guests will be taken to the south lawn as the sun sets. You’ll dine in a glass pavilion and enjoy stunning views of the stars and the city’s famous landmarks.
Jill Biden visited Kenya in February 2023. She said she hopes dinner guests “will be filled with the same warmth I felt on my visits to Kenya: that of a friendship that will endure and help create a bright and prosperous tomorrow.”
More than 1,000 candles will line the walls of the pavilion. They will reflect the sequin tablecloths and the 15,000 pieces of reflective metal strips that will be suspended above the guests.
First Lady Jill Biden greets Kenyan President William Ruto and his wife, First Lady Rachel Ruto, as they arrive at Joint Base Andrews.
“It is designed to reflect the first lady’s love of candlelight and the way she likes to make guests feel at home,” said White House social secretary Carlos Elizondo.
American roses along with fuchsia and purple African orchids will make up the centerpieces.
Guests can dine on lobster, ribs and cold tomato soup.
Event planner Bryan Rafanelli, who planned Naomi Biden’s White House wedding and other state dinners for this administration, said he draws inspiration for the events from the first lady.
‘In fact, I study Dr. Biden’s words all the time. “So in many different quotes over the time that he’s given, he’s always talked about candlelight,” he said.
She added that she hopes the candlelight and bright decor will “brighten everyone’s day.”
After dinner, guests will be entertained by Paisley and the Howard University Gospel Choir, which reflects Ruto’s love of country and gospel music.
Around 1,000 candles will line the walls: American roses along with fuchsia and purple African orchids will constitute the centerpieces.
Jill Biden said she hopes dinner guests “will be filled with the same warmth I felt on my visits to Kenya.”
Kenya is the first African nation since 2008 to be honored by the United States with a state visit, the largest benefit the White House can offer a foreign leader. It is the sixth state dinner of the Biden administration.
The president is honoring Kenya with a three-day visit after he promised at the 2022 African Leaders Summit to visit the continent in 2023. He said he was “fully committed” to Africa.
That visit did not occur due to other world events, particularly the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East. White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan said Wednesday that Biden still intends to visit Africa as president.
“I plan to go in February after I’m re-elected,” Biden told reporters Thursday afternoon.
Kenya’s visit comes as the East African nation prepares to deploy forces to Haiti as part of the UN-led effort to try to calm the security crisis in the Caribbean country.
About 1,000 Kenyan police officers are expected to arrive on the island soon. Bahamas, Barbados, Benin, Chad and Bangladesh also send police forces.
Additionally, the United States is using Kenya as a bulwark against growing Russian and Chinese influence in Africa.
China is Kenya’s largest creditor. Debt relief will be on the agenda when Biden and Ruta meet.
And Russia has sought to expand its economic and military influence throughout Africa.
Kenya is the economic powerhouse of East Africa. It is known as Silicon Savannah as its capital, Nairobi, is rapidly becoming a technology hub. Google has a huge operations center in Nairobi.
President Joe Biden welcomes Kenyan President William Ruto to the White House on Wednesday
The table set for the state dinner.
Ruto’s visit will begin when he and Biden meet with technology leaders at the White House on Wednesday. Among those expected to attend are executives from Teneo, Alphabet and Semiconductor Technologies Limited.
Before his stop at the White House, Ruto met with Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson at the Capitol.
First Lady Jill Biden greeted the Rutos upon their arrival at Joint Base Andrews Wednesday afternoon to welcome them to the United States.
Ruto will also participate in an event at the US Chamber of Commerce with Vice President Kamala Harris on Friday.