President Joe Biden and his family received tens of thousands of dollars in gifts from foreign leaders in 2023, but the most expensive gift was from first lady Jill Biden, according to the State Department's annual financial report released Thursday. . Indian leader.
A 7.5-carat diamond from Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi was arguably the most expensive gift given to a member of the first family in 2023, but she also received a 14,063-carat diamond from the Ukrainian ambassador to the US. He also received brooches and bracelets worth $4,510, a brooch and a photo album from the Egyptian president and first lady worth $4,510.
The U.S. president himself has received numerous expensive gifts, including a commemorative photo album worth $7,100 from recently impeached South Korean President Yun Seok-Yeol, a $3,495 Mongolian warrior statue from the Prime Minister of Mongolia, and a $3,300 silver bowl from the Sultan of Brunei. Received. , a sterling silver tray valued at $3,160 from the President of Israel, and a collage valued at $2,400 from President Volodymyr Zelenskiy from Ukraine.
Federal law requires executive branch officials to declare gifts received from foreign leaders or counterparts with an estimated value of more than $480.
Many gifts that meet this criterion are relatively modest, and the more expensive ones are usually, but not always, transferred to the National Archives or put on official display.
The $20,000 diamond was kept in the East Wing of the White House for official use, officials said. Department of State Documentother gifts to the president and first lady were sent to the archives.
Jill Biden's spokeswoman Vanessa Valdivia said the diamond will be turned over to the archives after Biden leaves office. She did not say what it was used for.
Recipients can also purchase gifts from the U.S. government at market prices, but this is rare, especially for luxury items.
Several CIA employees reported receiving lavish gifts, including watches, perfume and jewelry, nearly all of which were destroyed, according to the State Department's Bureau of Protocols, which compiles the list published in Friday's Federal Register. .
Of the gifts destroyed, they were worth a total of more than $132,000.
CIA Director William Burns He received an $18,000 astrograph, a telescope and an astrological camera, from a foreign source whose identity is classified.
It has been transferred to the General Services Administration.
However, Burns reported receiving and destroying an $11,000 Omega watch, and many others have done the same with their luxury watches.
The CIA employees at the rank of director or below who reported the gifts have not been identified, but one of them was recorded as receiving an Omega Seamaster Aqua Terra watch, a women's Omega Constellation watch, a diamond necklace, earrings, a bracelet, and a ring. They were recorded as having a combined value of $65,100. .
All of that was destroyed, as was a $30,000 women's jewelry set consisting of necklaces, bracelets, rings and earrings from Libyan jeweler Al Glou that another CIA employee had received, according to the report.
Another CIA employee reported receiving a men's Yacht-Master II Rolex Oyster Perpetual watch valued at $18,700, and another reported receiving a women's Rolex Oyster Datejust watch valued at $12,500. Another employee reported receiving a Rolex Air-King watch valued at $7,450.
According to the listing, all three watches had been destroyed.
Another employee reported receiving a collection of expensive Amouage perfumes valued at $10,670, pending destruction, the report said.
