It’s typical that foreign dignitaries shower sitting U.S. presidents and other federal employees with lavish and thoughtful presents. Last year was no different, as the State Department’s annual record for gifts from 2014 listed items that included pricey jewelry and national transportation passes.
The list was released to the public on Nov. 24 — one day before Thanksgiving — and revealed that the U.S. government has a lot to be thankful for, along with the first family, who together received $1.3 million worth of items from a Saudi king.
Although the law says he must hand over the flattering presents for safekeeping on display after his term is up (unless he wants to pay to keep them), President Barack Obama still accepted the fancy offerings from Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, the former prime minister of Saudi Arabia. He was given a $18,400 “gold and silver men’s wristwatch with leather band,” a $67,000 “white gold men’s wristwatch with leather band,” and a $57,000 “48-inch gold-plated brass replica of the Makkah Clock Tower on marble base.”
King Abdullah, who died in 2015 of pneumonia, was generous enough to treat the FLOTUS to some flashy jewelry. Michelle Obama received a “diamond and emerald jewelry set including necklace, earrings, ring and bracelet” at the value of $560,000.
The first kids weren’t left out, either. Sasha and Malia were presented with a “diamond and emerald jewelry set, including earrings, necklace, ring, brooch, and wristwatch” and a “diamond and ruby jewelry set including earrings, necklace, ring, brooch, and wristwatch.” Those goodies were worth $80,000.
The Obamas aren’t the only important government figures to be spoiled with delightful presents by foreign leaders. The CIA was given a mysterious “children’s book series” with a value of $832.13. The volumes are labeled under “Disposition — Retained for official use.”
Also, two presidential hopefuls were gifted something special. Republican Sen. Rand Paul, his son, Duncan, and three aides were given “government-provided lodging and transportation via patrolled SUV,” from the Guatemalan government at an unknown value. Republican Sen. Marco Rubio and two aides received a helicopter trip in Colombia from said country’s government, with the price of the items also unknown.
