Biden’s Memorable Gifts from World Leaders
Biden, often referred to as “Amtrak Joe,” received various gifts from international leaders during his last year in office. Among them was a special token from Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, which he cherished.
In March 2024, Meloni presented Biden with $723 Bucciarati cufflinks, as revealed by State Department records that were recently made public.
This was three months prior to Meloni’s notable interaction with Biden at a G7 summit in Puglia, Italy, where he had momentarily stepped away from a group photo.
Initially, Biden appeared hesitant when Meloni showed up, hinting at concerns regarding Italy’s far-right party taking power in 2022. However, he soon warmed to her. When he visited Italy in June 2024, he greeted her with a kiss on both cheeks, shook her hand, and even threw in an awkward salute.
Another gift that Biden planned to include in his farewell report was wreckage from an A-20 Havoc light bomber, given to him by Papua New Guinea Prime Minister James Marape in 2023. This piece held sentimental value for Biden, as he has often talked about his uncle, Army Air Force 2nd Lt. Ambrose Finnegan Jr., who died in a crash near New Guinea.
During 2024, Biden sparked some diplomatic tension by making a comment about the lack of bodies found, attributing it to the presence of cannibals in that region.
Various leaders showed their appreciation for Biden through unique gifts, including an ice cream scoop from the Sultan of Brunei and a $7,089 bicycle from the UAE president. Biden chose to send these along with a $7,750 model train to the National Archives.
Legal guidelines dictate that federal employees can’t accept gifts exceeding $480, although exceptions exist to prevent potential embarrassment to the donor or the U.S.
Biden’s wife, Jill, followed the rules when she accepted a $5,000 Dior bracelet from French First Lady Brigitte Macron.
It appears that Biden is also anticipating a fragment from the Notre-Dame Cathedral’s sculpture, a gift from French President Emmanuel Macron, who was involved in planning the cathedral’s restoration after its fire in 2019.
Jill Biden kept a bottle of Ormonde Jain perfume gifted by the Emir of Qatar and his wife. She’s also holding onto a vase from Kate, the Duchess of Cambridge. This vase, along with two books and a basket, was assessed at $567 in 2021, but currently, only the vase remains in personal storage.
Additionally, she received sterling silver jewelry from Ecuador’s first lady, which was valued at $760 along with a gold feather brooch that Biden ultimately decided to send to the archives.
