As Qatar's $400 million jumbo jet gift for Donald Trump hogs limelight, these unique gifts have been presented to US Presidents in past. Here's the list
US President Donald Trump may accept a $400 million luxury jet from Qatar as a possible Air Force One. While this move has triggered concerns, it is not the first time a US president has received a costly gift from a foreign government.
Gifts to US Presidents
Gifts from foreign leaders have been part of American presidential history since 1776. Presidents have often received items that reflect diplomacy and goodwill, ranging from cultural artifacts to live animals.
In 1862, King Mongkut of Siam offered Abraham Lincoln a herd of elephants. Lincoln declined but kept a sword, elephant tusks, and a royal family photo. In 1880, Queen Victoria sent President Rutherford Hayes a desk made from the HMS Resolute's timbers. That desk has since remained a staple in the Oval Office.
GIF89a����!�,D;
Continue to video
5
5
Next
Stay
Playback speed
1x Normal
Back
0.25x
0.5x
1x Normal
1.5x
2x
5
5
/
Skip
Ads by
by Taboola
by Taboola
Sponsored Links
Sponsored Links
Promoted Links
Promoted Links
You May Like
Semua yang Perlu Anda Ketahui Tentang Limfoma
Limfoma
Pelajari
Undo
In 1943, Winston Churchill gifted President Franklin D. Roosevelt a painting of a mosque. It was later owned by Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie, eventually selling for $11.5 million. President Richard Nixon accepted two pandas from China in 1972, which were housed at the National Zoo.
In 1997, Azerbaijan's leader gave President Bill Clinton and his wife a handmade rug featuring their portraits. The rug was made in one day by 12 women. President George W. Bush received 300 pounds of lamb from Argentina in 2003 and a puppy from Bulgaria, which was later given to family friends.
Live Events
Also Read:
Controversial Gift
One of the earliest and most debated gifts was a diamond-studded snuff box given to Benjamin Franklin in 1785. The gift from King Louis XVI led to concerns about foreign influence. It played a role in the creation of the
Emoluments Clause
, which bars federal officials from accepting gifts without Congress's consent.
Legal Limits on Presidential Gifts
Today, US law requires disclosure of foreign gifts worth over $480. Presidents may display such gifts in libraries, but must buy them to keep them personally. Trump has said the Qatari jet would go to his presidential center after his term.
Concerns About Qatar's Influence
Trump's administration says the jet is a goodwill gesture. However, critics warn it could give Qatar influence. Qatar has increased its presence in Washington in recent years.
FAQs
Why is Trump's Qatari jet gift controversial?
Ethics groups worry the jet could signal undue foreign influence and may violate rules on presidential gifts if not properly disclosed or valued.
What is the Emoluments Clause?
The Emoluments Clause prevents federal officials from accepting foreign gifts without Congress's approval, aiming to limit foreign influence on government decisions.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hindustan Times
6 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
Trump travel ban: Will Iran travel for 2026 FIFA World Cup?
USA, Canada, and Mexico are all set to host the 2026 FIFA World Cup together. However, President Donald Trump's latest travel ban has posed questions about whether certain qualified countries will now be allowed to travel to the US and take part. Starting Monday (June 9), citizens of 12 countries will no longer be allowed to get a US visa, according to a recent decision by Trump. Citizens of Afghanistan, Myanmar, Chad, the Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen have been banned by Trump and tighter restrictions have been applied to seven other nations (Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan and Venezuela). Trump explained his move by stating in a video, 'The recent terror attack in Boulder, Colorado, has underscored the extreme dangers posed to our country, by the entry of foreign nationals who are not properly vetted, as well as those who come here as temporary visitors and overstay their visas. We don't want them.' As of now, Iran is the only country from the list to have already qualified to compete in the FIFA World Cup next year. Cuba, Sudan, and Haiti are currently in contention to contest. Venezuela is five points off the threshold for automatic qualification but a playoff might just cut the deal. Sierra Leone can still be involved through multiple playoff games while Burundi, Equatorial Guinea, and Libya have very slim chances. Under the current policy, sports teams of qualifying countries should still be able to contest since such a provision have been provided for 'any athlete or member of an athletic team, including coaches, persons performing a necessary support role, and immediate relatives, traveling for the World Cup, Olympics, or other major sporting event as determined by the secretary of state.' However, this exception will only continue as long as there is no change to the current ban policy adopted by the US. Iranian fans hoping to catch their national team in the spotlight won't be so lucky however since the policy provides no such exceptions for fans of sporting teams. Getting an American visa had already been tough for Iranians even before the ban was implemented due to tougher vetting procedures. However, considering how those indulging in international travel for sporting events are usually from a higher wealth bracket, such individuals could still try to circumvent the process by using different passport options. The move has stirred a debate about the intersection of politics with global sport. Back in 2017, FIFA President Gianni Infantino had said, "Any team, including the supporters and officials of that team, who qualify for a World Cup need to have access to the country, otherwise there is no World Cup." Infantino has since developed close ties with Trump and has re-emphasized that sporting teams of all countries will face no barriers in coming to the US for participation next year. The event is expected to raise a majority of the soccer body's revenue in the 2023-2026 period. Questions have also been raised about the US' legitimacy to hold the upcoming 2028 Olympic Games with such strict travel policies against certain participating countries.
Time of India
13 minutes ago
- Time of India
Tech analyst and Tesla bull warns investors on Elon Musk-Donald Trump 'fight': 'I don't think...'
A day after Elon Musk and US President Donald Trump engaged in a 'fight' online, Wedbush Securities tech analyst and Tesla bull, Dan Ives, has advised investors to brace for further developments in the ongoing public dispute between the Tesla CEO and Trump, a conflict many experts had anticipated, a report has said. "Get the popcorn out," Ives told CNBC, suggesting the dispute is far from over. 'I don't think we're done here,' he added. Ives says the online feud between Musk and Trump is 'bad news' for market Ives expressed concern that Musk's strong reactions to Trump could jeopardise prospects for favourable regulatory outcomes for Tesla. In a research note on Thursday, Ives said the spat will be "jaw-dropping and a shock to the market." 'The quickly deteriorating friendship and now 'major beef' between Musk and Trump is jaw-dropping and a shock to the market,' Ives warned in a research note on Thursday, adding it is 'putting major fear for Tesla investors on what is ahead,' he said. However, Ives later moderated his stance following reports from Politico indicating that White House aides had contacted Musk in an attempt to de-escalate the situation. On Friday (June 6), Ives adjusted his assessment, writing that "Musk needs Trump and Trump needs Musk for many reasons, and these two becoming friends again will be a huge relief for Tesla shares," subsequently labeling the stock as oversold. How Musk-Trump spat started The feud started soon after the introduction of the Trump administration's " One Big, Beautiful Bill ", which Musk publicly branded a "disgusting abomination." Trump later fired back saying he did not need Musk to win in Pennsylvania. Musk replied by saying that if he would have not been involved, Trump would have lost the elections.
Time of India
14 minutes ago
- Time of India
'Kashmir to Kanyakumari' no longer a slogan but reality: J-K LG Manoj Sinha
Jammu and Kashmir Lt Governor Manoj Sinha on Friday said " Kashmir to Kanyakumari " is no more a slogan but has become a reality with Vande Bharat train to the valley getting flagged off. Prime Minister Modi on Friday inaugurated the iconic Chenab Bridge, Anji Rail Bridge and Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL) project and flagged off Vande Bharat trains, connecting Kashmir to Kanyakumari. Sinha said the inauguration of the Kashmir rail service has connected the hearts of the people of Jammu and Kashmir with the rest of the country and will pave the way for the economic prosperity of the region. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like The new hoseless mobile air conditioner does not require installation (search now) Air Condition | Search Ads Search Now Undo "Kashmir to Kanyakumari is no longer a slogan. Honourable Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has turned this decade-long dream into reality. He has connected the hearts of millions of Indians, forging an unbreakable bond from north to south," Sinha said at a public rally here after the inauguration of the train service to Kashmir. With Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL) and the launch of Vande Bharat trains to Kashmir, the prime minister has fulfilled the resolve of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel and Dr Syama Prasad Mookerjee, who had dreamt of 'Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat', the LG said. Live Events Terming it a momentous occasion that will go down in history, he expressed his heartfelt gratitude to Modi for dedicating the historic railway projects to the people of J-K and the nation. The LG observed that the inauguration of the world's tallest Chenab Railway Bridge and the country's first cable-stayed Anji Rail Bridge will ensure that J-K gets connected with new aspirations of progress. "The skills of our engineers to build Chenab and Anji bridges, and the hard work of our workers who carved through the mountains have eliminated the gaps that existed between the 'crown jewel of India' and the rest of the country," Sinha said. He said the prime minister has changed the Union Territory (UT) of J-K in the last six years. "Its holistic development is the top priority for the prime minister and his various policies, speedy implementation and industrialisation have brought the Union Territory to the focal point of growth. The prime minister had lit a new torch of socio-economic revolution in J-K post-August 2019. "He built strong pillars of economic development in J-K and now laid new lines of destiny in the form of railway lines on it to transform J-K at a new pace," he said. Sinha said since April 2022, Modi has dedicated and laid the foundation stone of development projects worth over Rs 1.15 lakh crore to the people of J-K. He also expressed his gratitude to the prime minister for ensuring firm and decisive action against terrorism and its ecosystem. "Operation Sindoor avenged the barbaric terrorist attack in Pahalgam and has drawn a new red line. On one hand, the unmatched power of our armed forces is ready to protect the integrity of the nation and on the other, creative power is dedicated to a developed India," the LG said. In a major boost to last-mile connectivity especially in border areas, Sinha said, Modi also laid the foundation stone and inaugurated various road projects. He laid the foundation stone of a road widening project from Rafiabad to Kupwara on National Highway-701 and the construction of the Shopian bypass road on NH-444 worth over Rs 1,952 crore. He also inaugurated two flyover projects at Sangrama Junction on National Highway-1 in Srinagar and at Bemina Junction on National Highway-44. These projects will ease traffic congestion and enhance traffic flow for the commuters, the LG said. Sinha said the prime minister also laid the foundation stone of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Institute of Medical Excellence in Katra worth over Rs 350 crore. "It will be the first medical college in the Reasi district contributing substantially to the healthcare infrastructure in the region," he said.
