Joe Biden, as the President of the United States, seems to have a fondness for splurging taxpayer money on extravagant gifts, handed over to numerous global leaders over a course of two years. High-priced aviator sunglasses, for instance, became a hallmark giveaway, finding their way into hands of 57 leaders. Undeniably, there’s a tradition for American presidents to offer gifts to their global counterparts during visits and summits, yet, the magnitude and recipients of Biden’s presents have been unsettling.
Biden’s gifting history also includes presenting a valuable handcrafted glass vase, priced at $2,310, to a reputed Cambodian autocratic ruler, and leather soccer balls, costing thousands of dollars, found their way to multiple leaders. Through the panoply of these gifts, many were given to international figures with troubling records of human rights violations. So much for championing democracy and human rights!
Biden didn’t stop at simply presenting these ‘luxuries’ to world leaders; he extended his generous hand to their wives as well. There’s a fine line between diplomatic gifts and might the growing nature of these offerings be more of distraction from real policymaking? Interestingly, several peculiar choices were made, one of which was gifting $1,109 worth custom-made leather dog collars and leashes to South Korea’s President Yoon Suk-yeol’s wife.
If there’s one thing that stands out in Biden’s array of gifts, it’s his personal favorite, the aviator sunglasses. This legendary accessory has become an integral part of Biden’s persona, even making the cut for his inaugural vice presidential Instagram post back in 2014. His campaign even launched the ‘Team Joe Aviators’ enabling people to add these historic Army Corps-commissioned sunglasses to their photos — apparently, foreign diplomacy also includes broadcasting his particular sartorial taste.
Given Biden’s obsession with aviators, it’s no surprise that they became a somewhat candy-like offering at the December 2022 U.S-Africa Leaders Summit in Washington. However, noticeably missing from the recipients of Biden’s precious shades was Chinese President Xi Jinping.
In his journey abroad in November 2022, Biden presented Xi with a glass bowl crafted by an American artist, pricing at $1,557.84. This move came amidst an attempt by the United States to mend deep fractures over Beijing’s claim to Taiwan along with human rights abuses and controversies surrounding technology. A finely strategic move indeed, using a rather costly glass bowl as a peace token.
Following his luxurious gift to Xi, Biden offered Qatar’s Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani a custom leather soccer ball, bearing the presidential seal and signature, costing $1,962. A day later, Guillermo Lasso Mendoza, Ecuador’s President, was presented with a similar ball and a pair of the infamous aviator sunglasses. The entire offering cost taxpayers a whopping $2,296.12. Seems like Biden’s soccer diplomacy lacks a touch of financial frugality.
Meanwhile, other countries including New Zealand and Ireland also received customized sports balls; however, for Ireland, it was a rugby ball. While surely a culturally fitting gesture, one might question the motivation behind such frivolous generosity.
During Colombian President Gustavo Petro’s visit to the White House, he received a conspicuous gift: a large, multicolored hand-blown glass vessel accompanied by a Yellowstone National Park throw blanket all presented in a lavish golden gift box. One must wonder about the relevance of these gifts to the bilateral relationships and diplomatic dialogues!
The prime minister of Papua New Guinea experienced the American president’s bountiful gifting gestures with a custom American golf set. This set included a putter, divots, and golf balls embellished with the presidential seal, sending taxpayers’ bill up by $515.99. Maybe he presumed a bit of golf would lighten their discussions.
Finland’s President Sauli Niinistö wasn’t left out either. During Biden’s visit, he gifted the president a custom handmade American hockey stick display shelf and a unique puck set made from White House wood. His wife was even treated to a $975 sterling silver and yellow gold bracelet. Too bad the American people didn’t receive such royal treatment.
On the same day when Biden was in England, King Charles III was presented with custom 18-karat yellow gold cufflinks in a beehive design and citrine gemstone, costing around $2,500. Now, that’s a neat symbolism, isn’t it? All hail the luxury-loving leader!
Our vice president, Kamala Harris, and second gentleman Doug Emhoff were not to be left behind. A selection of wines from Virginia and California was gifted to French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife. A more stereotypical gift, perhaps, but no less costly to the taxpayer.
In Harris’ husband’s solo trip to Thailand and the Philippines in November 2022, first lady Liza Araneta Marcos was presented with a handcrafted silver lotus brooch and a pearl and white lacquer jewelry box worth $1,095.51. A year later, he bestowed upon Rebecca Akufo-Addo, the first lady of Ghana, a hand-blown glass vase packed in a custom leather box, which removed another $1,580 from taxpayers’ wallets.
Even Secretary of State Antony Blinken has joined in on this spree, offering Catherine Colonna, France’s minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, a package including an American-made wristwatch, a box, and a journal featuring the U.S. seal, at a cost of $638.75. One must question the fiscal responsibility behind these decisions, especially when they are funded on taxpayer’s dime.