Biden Family Receives Lavish Gifts from Foreign Leaders
In 2023, the family of U.S. President Joe Biden received a significant number of gifts from foreign heads of state, totaling tens of thousands of dollars. This information comes from an annual report released by the U.S. State Department at the start of the new year.
The most extravagant gift was presented to First Lady Jill Biden: a diamond valued at $20,000 from Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. This 7.5-carat stone stood out as the most generous offering to any Biden family member during the year.
Other foreign dignitaries also demonstrated their generosity. The Ukrainian ambassador to the U.S. gifted a brooch worth $14,063, while the Egyptian presidential couple presented an assortment of items including a bracelet, a brooch, and a photo album that collectively valued $4,510.
President Biden himself received several notable gifts, including a keepsake photo album valued at $7,100 from the ousted South Korean President Suk Yeol Yoon. Additionally, the Prime Minister of Mongolia presented a statue of Mongolian warriors worth $3,495, while the Sultan of Brunei gifted a silver bowl valued at $3,300. The President of Israel contributed a sterling silver tray worth $3,160, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy provided a collage valued at $2,400.
U.S. federal regulations require executive branch officials to report gifts received from foreign leaders that exceed a value of $480. Although many gifts reaching this threshold tend to be modest, the more expensive ones are usually turned over to the National Archives or displayed in official exhibitions.
According to the State Department's documentation, the $20,000 diamond will be kept for official use in the East Wing of the White House, while other gifts intended for the President and the First Lady have been sent to the archives. The office of the First Lady did not respond to inquiries regarding the diamond's intended use.
Furthermore, a report from the State Department's protocol office indicated that several CIA personnel reported receiving significant gifts such as watches, perfumes, and jewelry, which were mostly destroyed. The total value of these destroyed gifts exceeded $132,000.
