The U.S. State Department on January 2 released its annual report detailing gifts received by President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden from foreign leaders in 2023. The list includes several expensive items, such as diamonds, brooches, and bracelets.
The most valuable gift was a 7.5-carat diamond valued at $20,000, presented to First Lady Jill Biden by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. She also received a brooch worth $14,063 from Ukraine's ambassador to the U.S., as well as a bracelet, brooch, and photo album valued at $4,510 from Egypt's President and First Lady.
President Biden received several high-value items, including a photo album worth $7,100 from South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol, a Mongolian warrior statue valued at $3,495 from Mongolia's Prime Minister, a silver bowl worth $3,300 from the Sultan of Brunei, a silver tray worth $3,160 from Israel's President, and a mosaic artwork valued at $2,400 from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
U.S. law requires government officials to declare gifts from foreign leaders and partners if their value exceeds $480. High-value gifts are typically sent to the National Archives or displayed in public collections.
According to the State Department, the $20,000 diamond is currently being held at the White House East Wing "for official purposes," while other gifts have been transferred to storage. Vanessa Valdivia, spokesperson for First Lady Jill Biden, stated that the diamond would be transferred to storage after the Bidens leave the White House. She did not specify whether the diamond had been used for any particular occasion.
Recipients of gifts also have the option to purchase them from the U.S. government at market value, though this is rare, especially for high-end items.
The State Department report also noted that some CIA personnel received valuable gifts, such as watches, perfumes, and jewelry. Most of these items were destroyed, with the value of destroyed gifts exceeding $132,000.
(Source: AP)
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