Gift-giving has been a central part of diplomacy since the advent of states. The Biden administration has seen the continuation of this tradition, with world leaders presenting the president of the United States with lavish gifts as showings of goodwill, often unique to their countries.
A new government report listed the many gifts received by President Joe Biden in 2021. Here are just some of those that Biden received.
From Russian President Vladimir Putin: $12,000 desk set
In June 2021, at a meeting in Geneva, Russian President Vladimir Putin gifted Biden a Kholuy Lacquer miniature workshop desk writing set and pen valued at $12,000. The gift was the most expensive of any that Biden received that year.
One and a half years later, it would be unthinkable for either world leader to gift each other anything, given the extreme hostilities that have arisen amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Relations between Russia and the United States were still frosty in the summer of 2021, but the U.S. accepted the gift under the rationale that “Non-acceptance would cause embarrassment to donor and U.S. Government.”
From Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky: U.S. Flag, 56” x 93”
Deciding to go the more humble route, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky gifted Biden a 56″ x 93″ American flag, valued at $700, in September 2021.
Nearly one and a half years later, Zelensky gave Biden a much more notable gift: Ukraine’s Cross of Military Merit, awarded to a Ukrainian soldier fighting in the Donetsk city of Bakhmut who was manning a U.S.-supplied High Mobility Artillery Rocket System. “Pavlo” had requested that Zelensky personally gift it to Biden during his visit to the White House.
From United Kingdom Prime Minister Boris Johnson: Two dog bowls
Perhaps aware of Biden’s well-known love of dogs, then-Prime Minister Boris Johnson gifted Biden two dog bowls, in addition to a slew of other gifts. The report also noted, “Two Atlantic Wool Blankets, Ceramic Cup and Mug Set, Devon Pens Fountain Pen Accompanied by a Bottle of Oxford Blue Ink, Photographer of Frederick Douglass Mural in Edinburgh, G7UK2021 Printed Face Mask,” altogether valued at $536.20,
From Afghan President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani: $9,600 silk carpet
Approximately one month and a half before his country’s inglorious fall to the Taliban, former Afghan President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani gifted Biden a lavish $9,600 carpet, among the most expensive gifts given by any ruler that year. Given on June 29, 2021, it would be among the last state gifts given out by the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan.
From Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi: “The Bidens of India” book
In one of the more unusual gifts, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi gifted Biden a hardcover edition of the book, The Bidens of India, valued at $455.
While the book doesn’t show up on Amazon, the book is most likely about Biden’s little-known Indian connection. The Times of India reported that the president possesses distant familial ties to India, with the Indian Bidens claiming to have lived in the city of Nagpur since 1873.
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From Queen Elizabeth II: $2,200 framed photo of herself
Continuing a long-running tradition in which monarchs gift others pictures or portraits of themselves, the late Queen Elizabeth II gifted Biden a photograph of her, encased in a silver frame, valued at $2,200. With her death in September, the queen’s June 2021 gift was one of the last given during her reign of over 70 years.
