What Happens to Foreign Gifts Given to U.S. Presidents?

Foreign gifts to U.S. presidents have ranged from bikes and rugs to luxury jets. By law, gifts valued over $480 must be declared and archived, becoming property of the U.S., not the president. Items often end up in presidential libraries or the National Archives.

The topic of foreign gifts to U.S. presidents gained attention again with reports of a $400 million jet offered to Donald Trump. Past gifts, like Bush’s 300 pounds of lamb or Clinton’s portrait rug, show how foreign gifts to U.S. presidents mix diplomacy with controversy. Despite strict rules, these gifts often spark debate.