Jill Biden receives most expensive gift from a foreign leader in 2023: a $20,000 diamond

WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden and his family received tens of thousands of dollars in gifts from foreign leaders in 2023, according to an annual accounting released Thursday by the State Department, with first lady Jill Biden receiving the gift the more expensive: a gift of $20,000. diamond of the Indian leader.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s 7.5-carat diamond was by far the most expensive gift given to a member of the first family in 2023, although she also received a brooch worth $14,063 from the Ukrainian ambassador to the United States and a bracelet, a brooch. and a photographic album worth $4,510 of the president and first lady of Egypt.

The US president himself received a number of expensive gifts, including a commemorative photo album worth $7,100 from recently impeached South Korean President Suk Yeol Yoon, a 3,495-year-old statue of Mongolian warriors $ from the Mongolian Prime Minister, a $3,300 silver bowl from the Sultan of Brunei. , a $3,160 sterling silver platter of the President of Israel and a collage worth $2,400 of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

Federal law requires executive branch officials to report gifts they receive from foreign leaders and counterparts valued at more than $480. Most gifts that reach this threshold are relatively modest, and the most expensive ones are usually – but not always – transferred to the National Archives or put on official display.

The $20,000 diamond was kept for official use in the East Wing of the White House, according to a State Department document, while other gifts to the president and first lady were kept. been sent to the archives.

Vanessa Valdivia, a spokesperson for Jill Biden, said the diamond would be returned to the archives after they leave office. She did not specify what it was used for.

Ukraine’s ambassador, Oksana Markarova, said on Facebook on Friday that a Ukrainian designer made the brooch from the remains of a Russian rocket and that the piece was made from cheap materials, so its “true value… lies in its symbolism.” Embassy spokeswoman Halyna Yusypiuk said U.S. authorities provided the estimated value.

Recipients have the option to purchase the U.S. government gift at market value, although this is rare, especially for high-end items.

According to the State Department’s Office of Protocol, which is compiling the list to be published in Friday’s edition of the Federal Register, several CIA employees reported receiving lavish gifts of watches, perfume and jewelry. , almost all of which were destroyed. Among the gifts destroyed, they were worth a total of more than $132,000.

CIA Director William Burns received an $18,000 astrograph, which is an astrological telescope and camera, from a classified foreign source. This is transferred to the General Services Administration. But Burns said he received and destroyed an Omega watch worth $11,000, while many others have done the same with luxury watches.

Below the rank of director, CIA employees who reported gifts are not identified, but one of them recorded an Omega Seamaster Aqua Terra watch, an Omega Constellation women’s watch, a diamond necklace , an earring bracelet and a ring worth a total of $65,100. .

All of these items were destroyed, according to the report, as was a set of women’s jewelry worth $30,000 from Libyan jeweler Al Grew, consisting of a necklace, bracelet, ring and of earrings received by another CIA employee.

Another CIA employee said he received a men’s Yacht Master II Rolex Oyster Perpetual watch worth $18,700, another said he received a women’s Rolex Oyster Datejust watch worth $12,500 and another received a $7,450 Rolex Air King watch. All three watches were destroyed, according to the list.

Another employee reported receiving a collection of expensive Amouage perfumes worth $10,670, which is being destroyed, the report states.