(Image source from: PTI)
Outgoing US President Joe Biden and his family's most expensive gift in 2023 was a diamond given by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to First Lady Jill Biden during her state visit to the White House. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 7.5-carat diamond worth $20,000 has become the most expensive gift to a member of the first family in 2023. He received the award in 2023. He also reportedly received a brooch worth $14,063 from the Ukrainian ambassador. A bracelet, brooch and photo album valued at $4,510 from the President and First Lady of the United States and Egypt. President Biden also received several expensive gifts, including a $7,100 commemorative photo album from recently impeached South Korean President Suk Yeol-eun, a $3,495 Mongolian warrior statue from the Prime Minister of Mongolia, a $3,300 silver cup, dollars from the Sultan of Brunei, and a gift. It costs $3,160. A silver plate from the President of Israel and a portrait of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky valued at $2,400.
Federal law requires executive branch officials to evaluate gifts of more than $480 from foreign leaders and colleagues. Many gifts that meet this threshold are relatively modest, and more expensive gifts are usually, but not always, given 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, while other gifts to the president and first lady were archived, according to a State Department document. Vanessa Valdivia, a spokeswoman for Jill Biden, said the diamond would be archived after she leaves office. He didn't say what it was used for. Recipients have the option of purchasing a gift from the US government at market value, although this is rare, especially for items of high value.
According to the State Department's Office of Protocol, which compiled the list released Friday, several CIA employees reported receiving lavish gifts, including watches, perfume and jewelry, almost all of which were destroyed. The total value of the gifts destroyed was more than $132,000. CIA Director William Burns received $18,000 worth of astronomical photographs, including a telescope and an astrophotography camera, from a foreign source whose identity was kept secret. It was transferred to the Public Service Department. However, Burns reported receiving and destroying an $11,000 Omega watch, and many others have done the same with their luxury watches.
Although the CIA officers at the rank of director and below who reported the gifts were not identified, one of them confiscated an Omega Seamaster Aqua Terra watch, an Omega Constellation women's watch, a diamond necklace, earrings, a bracelet and a ring . Together, these items are worth 1 million yen. $65,100 According to the report, all of this was destroyed, as was a $30,000 women's jewelry collection, consisting of necklaces, bracelets, rings and earrings from Libyan jeweler Al-Glo, which had been received from another CIA agent . 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. According to this list, all three hours were lost. Another employee reported receiving a collection of expensive Amouage perfumes worth $10,670 that were waiting to be destroyed.
