FLOTUS Jill Biden got $20,000 lab-grown diamond from Modi during 2023 state visit

While the First Lady retained the diamond for official use, President Biden transferred his gifts to the National Archives and Records Administration, which is responsible for safekeeping presidential gifts.

According to US government rules, the Office of the Chief of Protocol at the US State Department submits a comprehensive list of gifts received from foreign government sources. It includes both tangible gifts and gifts of travel or travel expenses of more than a minimal value of USD 415 (about Rs 35,000).

According to the State Department records, against almost all the entries of the presidential gifts, it is mentioned: “Non-acceptance would cause embarrassment to the donor and U.S. Government.

The 2023 trip was Prime Minister Modi’s first State visit to the US, where the Bidens hosted him at the White House and a community reception was also held at the lawns of the US President’s residence. The gifts were exchanged during a private dinner at the White House hosted for him by the Bidens.

During the PM’s visit, the Indian government had said that the green diamond “reflects the chemical and optical properties of earth-mined diamonds” and that it “embodies eco-friendliness” as it was crafted using sustainable resources “like solar and wind power.

Calling the diamond a ‘beacon of responsible luxury’, the government had said it ‘symbolises India’s 75 years of freedom and commitment to sustainable international relations’. The extraordinary gemstone was placed in a box, known as kar-e-kalamdani, which beautifully captures the exquisite craftsmanship of Kashmir; it had said.

Regarding Biden’s gift, the Indian government had said that it was a meticulously handcrafted sandalwood box, with ‘das danam’; (10 donations). Created by a master craftsman from Jaipur, the sandalwood box featured intricately carved flora and fauna patterns. The sandalwood was sourced from Mysore.

Among other things, the box consisted of a silver idol of Lord Ganesha handcrafted by a family of fifth-generation silversmiths from Kolkata, it had said.

In return, PM Modi received from the Bidens a handmade, antique book galley and a vintage American camera, besides a signed, first-edition copy of ‘Collected Poems of Robert Frost’.

During the 2023 State visit, Modi had also gifted Kurt Campbell, the Deputy Assistant to the President and Coordinator for IndoPacific Affairs, a wall hanging worth about USD 850.

PM Modi had also gifted a box with Jali work to US Congressman, Republican Senator Mitch McConnell, and a camel bone box to Democrat Senator Charles Schumer; both valued at USD 125.

NSA Ajit Doval gave his counterpart Jake Sullivan a silver Jaguar statue worth about USD 485 and a wooden elephant sculpture worth about USD 638.

Deputy NSA Rajinder Khanna gave a silver elephant sculpture worth about USD 3,980 to Homeland Security Advisor Elizabeth Sherwood Randall and a silver candlestick and silver picture frame worth about USD 515 to US Deputy National Security Advisor for Cyber & Emerging Technology to Anne Neuberger.