Jill Biden’s $20,000 Diamond and Other Gifts: Some Kept, Some Destroyed, Some Archived.

Jill Biden’s $20,000 Diamond and Other Gifts: Some Kept, Some Destroyed, Some Archived.

In 2023, First Lady Jill Biden received the most expensive gift given to any member of the first family—a $20,000 diamond from Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

This 7.5-carat diamond was presented during Modi’s state visit to the White House and was retained for official use in the White House East Wing.

Federal law requires executive branch officials to declare gifts they receive from foreign leaders that are valued over $480.

Typically, these gifts are transferred to the National Archives or put on official displays.

However, the diamond gifted to Jill Biden was kept for official use and will be turned over to the archives after the Bidens leave the White House.

President Joe Biden also received several valuable gifts in 2023.

These included a commemorative photo album valued at $7,100 from South Korea’s recently impeached President Suk Yeol Yoon,

a $3,495 statue of Mongolian warriors from the Mongolian Prime Minister,

a $3,300 silver bowl from the Sultan of Brunei,

a $3,160 sterling silver tray from the President of Israel, and a collage worth $2,400 from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

All these gifts were sent to the National Archives for preservation.

Interestingly, several employees of the CIA reported receiving lavish gifts of watches, perfume, and jewelry, nearly all of which were destroyed.

These gifts, worth more than $132,000 combined, were destroyed to avoid any potential conflicts of interest or ethical concerns.

The practice of receiving and handling gifts from foreign leaders is a delicate matter, often scrutinized to ensure transparency and prevent any appearance of impropriety.

The gifts retained for official use or transferred to the National Archives are preserved as part of the historical record, while those destroyed are done so to maintain ethical standards.

This report was derived from several news sources and has been posted on this blog to keep you updated.