First lady Jill Biden is on her way out of the White House with her husband, President Joe Biden, but she is bringing some expensive gifts with her.
Documents shared by the State Department showed that both she and her husband were showered with thousands of dollars worth of gifts from foreign leaders in 2023, The Daily Caller reported.
“Throughout 2023, the president and his wife were presented with thousands of dollars of gifts from foreign leaders, with the first lady receiving the most expensive gift of the year, a $20,000 diamond, according to annual accounting documents released by the State Department.
The 7.5 carat diamond was a gift from Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Other pricey gifts the first lady received include a $2,000 Eye of Horus necklace, an Egyptian Wood Inlaid Shell Purse, as well as a $14,063 brooch from the Ukrainian ambassador, the documents show,” the report said.
“On another occasion, the first lady received chairs, a brooch, a photograph album and a bracelet from the president and first lady of Egypt, in total valued at $4,510, the documents show. Kishida Yuko, spouse to the prime minister of Japan, gifted the first lady with calligraphy titled, ‘The Ship in the Sky,’ valued at $2,500, according to the annual accounting documents,” it said.
She was also given another book, a sculpture, and some candy from the First Lady of the Republic of Tunisia, totaling $3,015.
The majority of the gifts she received were sent to the archives but the diamond is being used in the East Wing of the White House. It will be sent to the archives when she leaves.
Meanwhile, the Bidens greeted President-elect Donald Trump at the White House in November after his victory over Vice President Kamala Harris.
Former First Lady Melania Trump turned down Jill Biden’s invitation to the traditional meeting of incoming and outgoing first ladies, but sources say she said no because she had to keep a commitment related to her book.
Jill, the White House official said, “gave Mr. Trump a handwritten letter of congratulations for Mrs. Trump, which also expressed her team’s readiness to assist with the transition.”
“Looking forward to having a smooth transition. Can make sure you’re accommodated, give you what you need,” Joe Biden said to the president-elect, adding “Welcome.”
Trump earnestly said: “Thank you, Thank you very much. And politics is tough and it’s in many cases not a very nice world, but it is a nice world today and I appreciate very much a transition that is so smooth, it’ll be as smooth as it can get, and I very much appreciate that, Joe.”
President Biden: “You’re welcome.”
Biden added: “Well, Mr. President-elect and former President Donald, congratulations.”
Weeks later, Trump was photographed with Jill Biden at the re-opening ceremony of the Notre Dame Cathedral in France.
Trump revealed insights from his discussions with global leaders during his first international trip since securing a second term, including a trilateral meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron and Zelensky.
“He wants to make peace,” Trump told the New York Post in a phone interview. “That’s new.”
“He wants to have a ceasefire,” he added. “He wants to make peace. We didn’t talk about the details. He thinks it’s time, and Putin should think it’s time because he’s lost — when you lose 700,000 people, it’s time. It’s not going to end until there’s a peace.”
Trump said he spoke to Zelensky about how to end the nearly three-year-old war that began in February 2022. “I’m formulating a concept of how to end that ridiculous war,” said Trump.
Trump also pointed to his Truth Social post, where he mentioned Russia in the context of the fall of the Syrian government.
“What happened there was Russia was not able to step up to the plate because they were all bogged down in this horrible war that never should have happened in Ukraine,” he said.
Trump also disclosed that he discussed NATO with Macron, reiterating his belief that the alliance members should “pay their fair share.”
