The 2022 list of diplomatic gifts to federal employees is out! Say what you will about the Bidens, but they do report and relinquish their gifts over $415 in estimated value! Only pointing this out because another president I could name spoiled four years of PDFs by refusing to report his diplomatic gifts and just taking them home, which is illegal, but, you know, hardly registers on the scale of things.
Anyway, some notable gifts given to US officials in 2022:
Joe Biden received:
From Qatar: A ‘QATAR 2022/22 Joe Biden’’ Sports Jersey with ‘‘FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022’’ Identification Card, valued at $430.00.
From Jamaica: A bottle of ‘‘Appleton Estate Ruby’’ rum, valued at $1,200.00. It was either retained for Official Use or disposed of according to Secret Service policies, which I assume involve being the first to yell DIBS.
From Egypt: An ankh valued at $2430, and a vulture-shaped Nekhbet collar valued at $1530.
From Palestine: A nativity scene carved in olive wood, valued at $9760.
From Saudi Arabia: Slovenian crystal, for some reason. Part of a big bundle of gifts valued altogether at $34,860.
From Ecuador: A panama hat and an "alpaca fur" (I think they mean wool? I hope they mean wool) scarf, valued at $570.
Jill Biden received:
From Ecuador: A painting of herself, which, along with a hat and tote bag in the same bundle, was valued at $1847.
From France: A Dior handbag, a St. James L'Atelier sweater, and books including a copy of Madame Bovary. Valued at $5832, with a note that the sweater was "retained for personal use." (This is allowed if you pay the government the cash value of the gift.)
From Ukraine, the Philippines, Greece, Papua New Guinea, Indonesia, and Mauritius: All gave her jewelry. Not sure if she actually is into jewelry or if this was more of an "and for the lady, a lady gift!" thing.
Kamala Harris Received:
From Tanzania: Tanzanite jewelry! Valued at $1568.
From Thailand: "Rectangular Plaque of Metal Repose of Royal in River," valued at $1100.
From France: "Model Space Rocket and Scarf," valued at $745.
Other officials received:
From Mauritania: Something logged only as "ground cover" was given to a national security advisor, and transferred to the US Fish & Wildlife Service. Valued at $780.
From Qatar: A custom guitar with name personalization for Antony Blinken, Secretary of State. Valued at $890. (He did not keep it.)
Also from Qatar: A Burberry cashmere scarf for Merrick Garland, Attorney General. Valued at $520. (He also did not keep it.)
From Uzbekistan and Pakistan: Silk carpets, which were "retained for official use," which I think means decorating the recipients' offices. Valued at $15,000 and $1200 respectively.
From an anonymous entity to an unnamed CIA employee: 190 cookies "from Upscale Bakery." Valued at $700. Disposition - "official use."
From an anonymous entity to an unnamed CIA employee: "Gaming Laptop," valued at $1499. (They chose to keep it.)
From Pakistan: Book: ‘‘Black Magic with Long Range Precision Rifle: Science and Art of Cold Bore Accuracy at Unknown Distances’’, for Mark Milley, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Along with a shawl, rug, and silver-tone tray, valued at $745.
From South Korea: "Von Estis diamond repair, Eleensila Mask, Smoother, Radiance Lift Mask.", for Rear Admiral Anthony Rossi. Valued at $533.
