The Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) shared a post online Wednesday condemning President Mike Johnson (R-La.) for refusing to host Kenyan President William Ruto for a joint meeting of Congress, which is normally extended to other leaders international.
“While @SpeakerJohnson may not have given the President of Kenya the opportunity to address a Joint Session of Congress, CBC was proud to welcome President Ruto to the United States Capitol today,” CBC said posted on social platform. “We were honored to present President Ruto as an honorary member of the CBC.”
Ruto is in town for a state dinner on Thursday, President Biden’s sixth state dinner since taking office.
He posted on X highlighting CBC’s role in “promoting social justice, human rights and economic development around the world.”
“We implore Congress to take the lead in reconfiguring the global financial architecture where power is not in the hands of a few. A bold, robust and targeted approach will free Africa from the burden of debt and transform the world,” Ruto said on X.
The Hill has reached out to Johnson’s office for comment; was released statement to USA Today that Johnson provided the Kenyan Embassy with “more than 90 minutes of engagement, including a one-on-one visit with President Johnson, bipartisan leadership meeting with President Johnson, Leader Jeffries, and Committee Chairs and Ranking Members, and a bicameral meeting.”
Ruto said he was honored to be recognized as an honorary member of the CBC and shared photos of his visit.
The dinner will honor the 60th anniversary of the United States’ partnership with Kenya, and Biden plans to designate Kenya as a major non-NATO ally, the first in sub-Saharan Africa.
The CBC post was intended to be critical of Johnson, who plans to invite Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to speak to Congress. Johnson’s invitation was met with resistance from some Democrats as the war between Israel and Hamas continues in Gaza.
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