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Foreign dignitaries showered the Biden administration with lavish gifts worth tens of thousands of dollars during the former president’s final year in office, according to a State Department report published Thursday in the Federal Register.
The annual report from the Bureau of Protocol details gifts received by former President Joe Biden, First Lady Jill Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris, and other senior officials during 2023. The document offers a glimpse into the world of diplomatic gift-giving, where foreign leaders often present expensive tokens of appreciation to U.S. officials.
Among the most notable items received by the former president was an acrylic painting titled “Marimba” by renowned Angolan artist Guizef Guilherme, valued at approximately $19,000. The artwork, gifted by Angola’s president, was transferred to the National Archives.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi presented Biden with a sterling silver train set worth $7,750, while United Arab Emirates President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan gave him a road bike and two crates of dates valued at $7,089. While the train set and bike went to the archives, the Secret Service disposed of the perishable dates.
Federal employees are required to report gifts from foreign officials valued at more than $480. Most gifts are transferred to the National Archives or General Services Administration rather than kept by recipients unless they reimburse the Treasury for them or, in rare instances, retain them for official use.
The former first lady received some of the most valuable gifts documented in the report. The emir of Qatar and his spouse presented Jill Biden with an 18-karat gold diamond necklace and a bottle of Ormonde Jayne perfume with a combined value of $11,165. While the necklace was sent to the National Archives, she kept the perfume bottle after its contents were disposed of.
French First Lady Brigitte Macron gave Jill Biden a Dior bracelet and Sevres vase worth a combined $5,090. Biden purchased the bracelet but forwarded the vase to the archives.
Former Vice President Kamala Harris received multiple gifts, though none exceeded $2,700 in value. Her most expensive gift was a collection including a rug, cooking utensils, and a book from the United Arab Emirates, valued at $2,633. She also received a painting worth $1,460 from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, a ceramic bowl from South Korea’s first lady valued at $1,440, and a book and clock worth $1,775 from Bahrain’s crown prince. All these items were transferred to the National Archives.
Cabinet members also received significant gifts. Former Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin reported several high-value presents, including a $3,700 bronze statue from his Indian counterpart, binoculars worth $2,950 from Qatar, and a $1,300 watercolor painting from Iraq’s prime minister. These items were designated for transfer to the General Services Administration.
At the CIA, former director William Burns reported receiving a $3,000 horse saddle from a senior Kazakh official, which was retained for official use. Several unnamed CIA employees reported gifts kept for “official use,” including $2,390 in tickets for a Formula One race and a Teddy Swims concert, as well as a $543 box of Swedish/Cuban cigars.
Perhaps most unusually, one CIA employee reported receiving $15,000 in cash from an unidentified foreign government official. According to the report, the money was turned over to the Federal Reserve.
By contrast, former Secretary of State Antony Blinken reported only a handful of relatively modest gifts in 2023, none valued at more than $800. All were forwarded to the GSA for potential use in government facilities.
The report covers only the final year of the Biden administration and does not include gifts given to President Donald Trump or members of his administration during the first year of his second term.
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7 Comments
It’s good that the government has a transparent process for cataloging and handling these foreign gifts. I imagine there are complex rules and protocols around their disposition, given the potential for conflicts of interest.
Fascinating to see the lavish gifts foreign leaders gave to Biden and other officials. It highlights the diplomatic nature of these exchanges, even if some seem a bit extravagant. Curious to learn more about the stories behind these unique items.
This report provides an interesting window into the world of diplomatic gift-giving. While the items may seem extravagant, they likely hold deep cultural significance and symbolism for the gifting countries. It will be interesting to see how these gifts are handled and preserved going forward.
The train set and road bike sound like fun, personal gifts. I wonder if the recipients will get to enjoy them, or if they’ll end up in the National Archives like the painting. Either way, it’s an intriguing glimpse into global diplomacy.
A road bike and crates of dates from the UAE – that’s an eclectic mix! It’s interesting to see the range of gifts, from fine art to practical items. I’m curious what the recipients plan to do with the perishable dates.
The $19,000 Angolan painting is quite an impressive gift! I wonder what the symbolism and meaning behind it is. The sterling silver train set from India is a thoughtful nod to the president’s interests.
While the gifts seem lavish, it’s important to remember that this type of diplomatic gift-giving is a long-standing tradition. These exchanges can serve to strengthen international relationships, even if the specific items may seem unusual.