House Democrats are frustrated with Speaker Mike Johnson‘s (R-LA) decision not to invite Kenyan President William Ruto to address a joint session of Congress, with some calling it a “slap in the face” to what the historic state visit symbolizes.

Ruto will be the first African leader to receive a state visit this week since 2008, when then-President George W. Bush invited Ghanaian President John Kufuor to the United States. However, unlike several other foreign leaders like Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, Ruto will not deliver a speech on the House floor.