The White House seems to be facing some scrutiny, particularly regarding President Donald Trump’s potential acceptance of a lavish $400 million jumbo jet from Qatar as a new Air Force One. Interestingly, Trump’s administration isn’t the first to accept such extravagant gifts from foreign leaders.
This practice has roots dating back to 1776, where American officials have been known to receive various exotic and valuable gifts from monarchs and dignitaries around the globe.
For instance, Abraham Lincoln declined a gift of elephants from the king of Thailand in 1862 but referred to some exquisite items from King Mongkut, including a sword and photographs of the royal family.
In 1880, President Rutherford Hayes received a remarkable desk crafted from wood of the Arctic exploration vessel HMS Resolute, a gift from Queen Victoria. Interestingly, reports suggest that this desk made its way to the Oval Office and was temporarily removed during Biden’s administration.
In 1943, Franklin D. Roosevelt was given a painting of the Kutubia Mosque in Marrakech by British Prime Minister Winston Churchill. Similarly, after Nixon’s historic visit to China in 1972, he was gifted two giant pandas, which were later donated to the National Zoo in Washington, D.C.
In 1997, President Clinton and Hillary received a handmade rug featuring their portraits, woven by a team of 12 women in just one day. Meanwhile, George W. Bush got a hefty 300-pound lamb as a goodwill gesture from the Argentine president in 2003, along with a puppy from Bulgaria. His father, George H.W. Bush, was once gifted a Komodo dragon from Indonesia.
One rather controversial gift was a gold and diamond snuffbox that Benjamin Franklin received from King Louis XVI after a diplomatic stint in France. This luxurious token raised eyebrows among the early U.S. officials regarding foreign influence and ultimately contributed to the creation of an emoluments clause in the Constitution.
It’s notable that Franklin decided to keep the snuffbox despite potential issues. The box, which his daughter later modified, now resides at the American Philosophical Association in Philadelphia.
According to federal law, officials must report gifts from foreign governments exceeding $480, and while the president can keep gifts for a presidential library, personal use requires a fair market price. Trump has indicated that the $400 million aircraft will eventually be housed in his Presidential Center.
Despite claims about the jet being a benevolent gesture from Qatar, ethical analysts have raised questions about transparency and foreign influence, especially given Qatar’s recent push to bolster its reputation in Washington. Notably, on his first foreign trip as president in 2017, Trump received a sword, dagger, and three fur-lined robes from the Saudi royal family, which later faced scrutiny when found to contain fake fur.
