Politics Politician Families LeVar Burton, Lester Holt and More Luminaries Attend State Dinner for Kenya's President and First Lady — See the Photos The black tie affair was hosted by President Biden and First Lady Biden By Lawrence Yee Lawrence Yee Lawrence Yee joined PEOPLE in December 2023 as the Senior News Editor, Nights. His work has previously appeared on The Wrap, Variety and Yahoo. People Editorial Guidelines Updated on May 24, 2024 01:21AM EDT LeVar Burton and Lester Holt attend the state dinner in honor of Kenya's president William Ruto on May 23, 2024. Photo: Tierney L. Cross/Bloomberg via Getty (2) 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: 01 of 15 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 of Kenya arrive for a State Dinner at the White House in Washington, DC, on May 23, 2024. ROBERTO SCHMIDT/AFP via Getty 02 of 15 Kenya's First Lady Rachel Ruto, President Joe Biden, and First Lady Jill Biden Rachel Ruto, President Joe Biden, and First Lady Jill Biden at the state dinner. Al Drago/Bloomberg via Getty 03 of 15 Vice President Kamala Harris and Douglas Emhoff 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 04 of 15 Bill Clinton and Hillary Clinton Bill Clinton and Hillary Clinton arrive at the State Dinner for Kenyan President William Ruto and his wife Rachel Ruto. Tasos Katopodis/Getty 05 of 15 Barack Obama Barack Obama at Thursday's state dinner. Al Drago/POOL/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock 06 of 15 LeVar Burton and Stephanie Cozart Burton 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 07 of 15 Carol Hagen-Holt and Lester Holt 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 08 of 15 Wilmer Valderrama and Amanda Pacheco Rhinesmith Wilmer Valderrama and Amanda Pacheco Rhinesmith arrive at the State Dinner for Kenyan President William Ruto and his wife Rachel Ruto. Tasos Katopodis/Getty 09 of 15 Tom Bernthal and Sheryl Sandberg 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 10 of 15 Brad Paisley and Kimberly Williams-Paisley 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 11 of 15 Reverend Al Sharpton and Aisha McShaw 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 12 of 15 Huma Abedin and Alex Soros 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 13 of 15 Melinda French Gates and Rory Gates 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 14 of 15 Paul Keary and Ursula Burns 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 15 of 15 Pete Buttigieg and Chasten Glezman 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 Close