White House Welcomes Kenya in State Dinner
Plus, Jill Biden hosts Kenya’s Rachel Ruto in classroom and cancer center tours.
The White House honored Kenyan’s President William Ruto and his wife Rachel at Thursday’s star-studded state dinner that also included family members, politicians and journalists.
About 500 guests were expected to attend the state dinner, which is the first state dinner for an African nation since 2008, according to the Associated Press.
First Lady Dr. Jill Biden wore a sapphire blue, hand-embroidered evening gown by Sergio Hudson, according to the First Lady’s Office. Melissa Cohen Biden walked the red carpet without her husband Hunter Biden. She told reporters her white dress with silver sequined flowers was made by the designer "Safiyaa." She did not answer when asked, "Where's Hunter?"
Naomi Biden and Peter Neal were also in attendance. She wore a flowy frock, bright green with gold at her shoulders and feet.
"Oh, yes it is," Natalie Biden said as she walked through the red carpet with her boyfriend when asked if she was attending her first state dinner. And, Finnegan Biden told reporters when asked who designed her black, sparkling column-like gown that she was wearing "Roland Mouret."
Country singer Brad Paisley, the featured entertainer for the state dinner, said he was "excited" to perform.
"I can't wait to see what kind of audience this is," he told reporters, adding he planned to start his set with “American Saturday Night” and “then all bets are off.”
When Former First Lady Secretary Hillary Clinton and former President Bill Clinton arrived on the red carpet, he told reporters, “I like the girl behind you.” Hillary Clinton’s official portrait was displayed behind reporters.
British actress Michaela Coel was wearing a red dress with a gold design. “It's from a Sudanese friend of mine. She wore it to her wedding and gave it to me,” she said, adding it was her first time in Washington, D.C. “The closest I've had to this is Hamilton the musical.”
Other attendees included actor Sean Penn, actor LeVar Burton, former Facebook CEO Sheryl Sandberg, Rep. Ilhan Omar, singer-songwriter Don McLean, broadcast journalist Lester Holt and Barbara Kingsolver, author of The Poisonwood Bible, which was set in Africa.
Jill Biden Hosts Kenya’s Rachel Ruto in Classroom and Cancer Center Visits
As part of the state visit with the Republic of Kenya, First Lady Dr. Jill Biden hosted Rachel Ruto, the country’s first lady, at two events Thursday in Washington, D.C. in recognition of the continuing friendship between the two countries.
The two women visited a career learning center and attended a Biden Cancer Moonshot listening session. The spousal events highlight the shared interest in advancing educational opportunities for young people and advocacy for cancer patients and their families. The visit with Mrs. Ruto follows Dr. Biden’s February 2023 visit to Kenya as well as her visits in 2010 and 2011 while serving as second lady.
The first ladies visited the Advanced Technical Center (ATC), where the Biden-Harris administration investments in career-connected learning programs for students were highlighted. They met with high school students and instructors in the nursing and cybersecurity career pathways programs, which received funding from the American Rescue Plan.
The first stop was a classroom where high school students were in a nursing class, learning how to take blood pressure and other vital signs. The two first ladies observed the students taking each other’s blood pressure.
“I don’t even know what your blood pressure should be,” Dr. Biden said and was then told 120/80 should be the average.
Dr. Biden, who teaches English at Northern Virginia Community College, talked about being an educator, noting “this is my 40th year teaching.”
She then asked the students, “Is anyone planning on going to NoVa? Have you looked into it?”
The second stop was in a cybersecurity classroom.
John Irungu, the cybersecurity instructor, said he was originally from Kenya, which got him applause from that delegation. Irungu described the learning program to the first ladies. Two of the students showed them the motherboard they were studying to learn its parts and how it worked.
“Seems like a foreign language to me,” Dr. Biden said.
“Me too,” Mrs. Ruto said.
Other students showed how they were learning how to build cyber walls for protection and spoke to the women about their career aspirations in computers, engineering and cybersecurity.
Upon exiting the center, the two first ladies stopped to talk to a handful of people in the neighborhood who were Biden supporters. One woman was wearing a Biden-Harris T-shirt and holding a small baby. Dr. Biden and Mrs. Ruto took a few pictures with them and Mrs. Ruto held the baby before the women waved and headed to their next stop.
Cancer Moonshot
In the early afternoon, the two first ladies visited the Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg Center for a Biden Cancer Moonshot listening session. Dr. Biden and Mrs. Ruto received a briefing on cancer research where Liz Jaffee, Deputy Director, Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, said she was alarmed by the rising cancer rate in young adults, calling it a “Global problem.”
“I agree,” Dr. Biden said.
The doctors talked about the research they were doing to help them detect different cancers.
Sara Sukumar, Professor of Oncology and Pathology at the Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, described a study in South Africa to use different ways to detect breast cancer. She noted breast cancer rates are rising in low and middle income countries.
“The fact that we are able to finish our study faster means so many women are coming through with breast cancer,” Sukumar said.
Dr. Biden asked if the study was just in Africa and was told ‘yes’ because places like Europe have mammograms.
After the briefing the two first ladies joined a Biden Cancer Moonshot listening session. The first ladies were briefed on the work of the Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer center that includes 60,000 unique patients a year, about 8,000 cancer surgeries, and 60,000 radiation treatments.
There were also briefings on prevention efforts, early detection, patient services and the lifestyle factors that raise cancer rates (smoking and poor diet). The center works to educate people on these factors.
Dr. Biden noted she and Mrs. Ruto met over a year ago at the African Leaders Summit and bonded over their dedication to cancer research.
“We spoke about cancer and what we can do to fight it and really about how it's so close to our hearts. Then, Rachel, you invited me to your home and you showed me the amazing work that you're doing to empower women and young people in Kenya,” Biden said, adding that everyone has to come together as a global community “to stop it, because none of us can do it alone.”
Mrs. Ruto called Dr. Biden “my sister and friend” and said the goal for the state visit “is partnership and prosperity.” She talked about her work trying to lower the cancer rate in Kenya.
“I think with cancer the one thing we have to focus on is hope,” Dr. Biden said.
Weekly Wrap
Weekly Wrap is a collection of headlines from the past week. Some publications have paywalls.
Newsweek
Melania Trump's $175 Jewelry Item Mocked—'Tacky'
May 23, 2024 — Melania Trump is facing criticism and derision from detractors online, after promoting chains featuring patriotically-themed pendants. Read more
The White House
President Biden and the First Lady Greet President Ruto and First Lady Ruto of Kenya
May 23, 2024 — President Biden and the First Lady greet President William Ruto and First Lady Rachel Ruto of Kenya in an Official Arrival Ceremony. View here
East Wing Magazine
How Being Married to Wartime Generals Impacted These Three Presidential First Ladies
May 23, 2024 — The military lives of Martha Washington, Julia Grant and Mamie Eisenhower represents a unique bond these three former first ladies share like no other presidential spouses. Read more
USA Today
In Photos: First Lady Jill Biden Gives Sneak Peek of White House State Dinner
May 22, 2024 — White House chefs present their menu during a media preview in advance of Thursday evening's State Dinner for President William Ruto and First Lady Rachel Ruto of the Republic of Kenya on Wednesday, May 22, 2024. View here
NBC
What Is a State Dinner and Why Does the U.S. Hold Them?
May 23, 2024 — For the first time since 2008, the United States is honoring an African nation with a state visit: Kenya. The 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries arrives as roughly 1,000 Kenyan police officers are set to arrive in Haiti as part of a multilateral security support mission that aims to help quell gang violence, the Associated Press reports. Read more
Time
10 Surprising Facts About Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis
May 19, 2024 — On May 19, 1994, Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, one of the most famous First Ladies, died at age 64 in her New York City apartment from non-Hodgkin lymphoma cancer. She was buried beside her first husband, former President John F. Kennedy, widely referred to as JFK, whose assassination she witnessed in Dallas in 1963. Even before the tragedy, the First Lady was already in the global spotlight, revered for her style and intellectualism. Read more
Baytown Sun
Travis Elementary Receives Laura Bush Foundation Grant
May 17, 2024 — Travis Elementary School was one of 200 schools from 40 states across the country to receive a $5,000 grant through the Laura Bush Foundation for America’s Libraries. This year, the Laura Bush Foundation for America’s Libraries awarded $1 million in library grants. Many of the libraries will use the funds to update and diversify their collections. Read more