President Joe Biden and his household got tens of 1000’s of {dollars} in presents from international leaders in 2023, in line with an annual accounting revealed by the State Division on Thursday, with first woman Jill Biden receiving the only most costly current: a $20,000 diamond from India’s chief.
The 7.5-carat diamond from Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi was simply the most expensive present introduced to any member of the primary household in 2023, though she additionally obtained a brooch valued at $14,063 from the Ukrainian ambassador to the USA and a bracelet, brooch and {photograph} album price $4,510 from the president and first woman of Egypt.
The U.S. president himself obtained quite a few costly presents, together with a commemorative picture album valued at $7,100 from South Korea’s not too long ago impeached President Suk Yeol Yoon, a $3,495 statue of Mongolian warriors from the Mongolian prime minister, a $3,300 silver bowl from the sultan of Brunei, a $3,160 sterling silver tray from the president of Israel, and a collage price $2,400 from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Federal legislation requires government department officers to declare presents they obtain from international leaders and counterparts which have an estimated worth of greater than $480. Lots of the presents that meet that threshold are comparatively modest, and the dearer ones are sometimes — however not at all times — transferred to the Nationwide Archives or placed on official shows.
The $20,000 diamond was retained for official use within the White Home East Wing, in line with a State Division doc, whereas the opposite presents to the president and first woman had been despatched to the archives.
Vanessa Valdivia, a spokesperson for Jill Biden, stated the diamond can be turned over to the archives after they go away workplace. She didn’t say what it was getting used for.
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Ukraine’s ambassador, Oksana Markarova, stated Friday on Fb {that a} Ukrainian designer long-established the brooch from the stays of a Russian rocket and that the piece was made out of cheap supplies, so its “true worth … lies in its symbolism.” The embassy’s spokesperson, Halyna Yusypiuk, stated U.S. officers supplied the assessed worth.
Recipients have the choice to buy the present from the U.S. authorities at its market worth, though that’s uncommon, notably with high-end gadgets.
In line with the State Division’s Workplace of Protocol, which compiles the listing that can be revealed in Friday’s version of the Federal Register, a number of workers of the CIA reported receiving lavish presents of watches, fragrance and jewellery, practically all of which had been destroyed. Of the presents destroyed, they had been price greater than $132,000 mixed.
CIA Director William Burns obtained a $18,000 astrograph, which is a telescope and astrological digital camera, from an international supply whose id is assessed. That’s being transferred to the Basic Companies Administration. However Burns reported receiving and destroying an $11,000 Omega watch, whereas quite a few others did the identical with luxurious timepieces.
Under the rank of director, the CIA workers who reported presents are usually not recognized, however one in every of them logged an Omega Seamaster Aqua Terra watch, a women Omega Constellation watch, a diamond necklace, earring bracelet, and a hoop that had been valued collectively at $65,100.
All of these had been destroyed, in line with the report, as was a $30,000 girls’s jewellery set from the Libyan jeweler Al Grew consisting of a necklace, bracelet, ring and earrings obtained by one other CIA worker.
One other CIA worker reported receiving a males’s Yacht Grasp II Rolex Oyster Perpetual watch price $18,700, one other reported getting a girl’s Rolex Oyster Datejust watch valued at $12,500, and one different received a $7,450 Rolex Air King watch. All three of the watches had been destroyed, in line with the listing.
One other worker reported receiving a set of dear Amouage Fragrance price $10,670, the destruction of which is pending, the report says.
© 2025 The Canadian Press
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