WASHINGTON — Smoked short ribs and buttered lobster are on the menu for Kenyan President William Ruto’s visit to the White House. What’s not on the menu is an invitation for the African leader to address a joint session of Congress.
This lack of policy has infuriated many lawmakers.
As President Joe Biden prepares to host Ruto and his wife Rachel for a lavish state dinner on Thursday evening, some fear a bitter aftertaste will be left by not giving them the honour that has been bestowed on all visiting heads of state in recent times.
Many senior lawmakers are outraged by Speaker Mike Johnson’s refusal to hold a joint parliamentary meeting with Foreign Affairs Minister Ruto, proposed by the House Foreign Affairs Committee to “highlight the importance of the U.S.-Kenya relationship.” Speaker Johnson’s office cited “scheduling” issues as the reason for the refusal.
Ruto’s visit marks the first official visit to the United States by a Kenyan president in 20 years and the first by an African leader since 2008. The last African leader to address Congress was Liberia’s President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, who spoke on the House of Representatives floor in 2006.
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“An affront to American diplomacy”
In a letter to Johnson, Congressional Black Caucus Chairman Steven Horsford called the move “an affront to U.S. diplomacy,” adding that it was “particularly disturbing” given that leaders of 118 countries are making official visits to the United States.Number The Congress was invited to address the Assembly.
The letter, signed by more than 60 members of the Black Caucus, including House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, called for Ruto to be “treated with the same respect as any other head of state”.
Recently, leaders of various countries, including Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kashida, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Israeli President Isak Herzog and South Korean President Yoon Seok-yeol, have spoken at the joint parliamentary session.
“Failing to invite President Ruto sends a dangerous message to the world,” Horsford wrote, “that the importance of our country’s relationship with the African continent will be downplayed over which countries the U.S. Congress deems worthy of addressing Congress.”
Lawmakers warn that ‘adversaries’ are trying to undermine U.S. alliances
Asked about Johnson’s decision, his office sent a statement to USA Today saying the reason he wasn’t invited was “scheduling constraints.”
“We offered the Kenyan Embassy a 90+ minute meeting, which included a one-on-one meeting with Speaker Johnson, a bipartisan leadership meeting with Speaker Johnson, House Majority Leader Jeffries, committee chairs and ranking members, and a bicameral meeting,” the statement said of the meeting, which took place on Wednesday.
Democratic Congresswoman Barbara Lee joined other lawmakers in sending a letter to President Johnson, pointing out that “hostile nations” such as China, Russia and Iran are trying to destroy America’s alliances, especially in Africa.
As the Caribbean nation prepares to send police forces to Haiti, it is emerging as a key African partner for the U.S. Johnson’s choice to deny Ruto a floor speech gives authoritarian opponents an opening to make inroads in African public opinion, the lawmakers warned, adding that “Kenyans deserve more respect.”
According to the White House, Ruto’s visit marks 60 years of the U.S.-Kenya formal partnership “based on shared values, deep cooperation, and a shared vision for the future.” Biden is also expected to inform Congress on Thursday of his intention to designate Kenya as a major “non-NATO ally,” a designation the U.S. gives to countries with which it has close, strategic partnerships with U.S. military and defense civilians.
Other areas of partnership between the two countries will include global peace and security, economic development, human rights, and addressing the climate crisis.
A glamorous diplomatic tool, the state dinner “builds lasting friendships and helps build a brighter, more prosperous tomorrow,” First Lady Jill Biden said.
Roses and orchids
On Thursday evenings, guests will dine under the stars in a candlelit glass pavilion.
Brian Rafanelli, the evening’s event planner, said the evening’s decorations reflected the First Lady’s love of candlelight and her preference for making even a large number of guests feel at home.
Filled with warm pinks and reds, the space will be decorated with roses and orchids representing the United States and Kenya.
“As my guests leave in the light of our one and only moon, I hope they are filled with the same warmth that I felt when I visited Kenya,” Biden said.
vinegarwapna Venugopal Ramaswamy is USA TODAY’s White House correspondent. You can follow her on X (old Twitter) @SwapnaVenugopal.
