Melania Trump’s diamonds, pearls and fine decor gifts … which world leader gave her the best presents during her final year of White House travel, Queen Elizabeth or Akie Abe?
- Donald Trump and wife Melania received items worth US$120,000 altogether in 2019, but the former first lady got her own gifts too – mostly jewellery
- She got pearl earrings from Japan and Australia, and diamond earrings from the Czech Republic, while other countries noted her love of interior design
Melania Trump has been given plenty of extravagant gifts by foreign leaders in the past, but new records show that she and husband Donald Trump received items collectively worth US$120,000 in 2019. Let’s take a look at some of the finer items.
Czech Republic: white gold diamond earrings
The former first lady received white gold diamond earrings from Monika Babišová, the wife of the Czech Republic’s prime minister, which are valued at US$470.
Prime Minister Andrej Babiš, who has been the subject of a fraud scandal in his country, is nicknamed the “Czech Donald Trump”. He finally got to meet the real one in March 2019, when he and his spouse were welcomed to the White House.
At the time both couples met in the Oval Office, Trump was valued at US$3.1 billion while his Czech counterpart’s net worth was slightly higher at US$3.8 billion.
Australia: pearl earrings
Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison visited the White House in September 2019, and his wife used the trip as an opportunity to extend an offering to her American counterpart. Jennifer Morrison gave FLOTUS pearl earrings valued at US$700.
Japan: pearl earrings
Akie Abe, the wife of Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, also noted Melania’s love of jewellery and gifted her a pair of pearl earrings. The delicate pieces are valued at US$2,600.
The Empress of Japan also took the opportunity to give Melania a little something on the couple’s trip in 2019 too: the former first lady received an ornamental Japanese lacquer box and a signed photo from Masako Owada valued at US$1,130.
Great Britain: sterling silver jewellery box
As the owner of some impressive pieces herself, Queen Elizabeth might have been aware of Melania’s large jewellery collection after her visit to the United Kingdom in June 2019, alongside Tiffany and Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner.
The queen thoughtfully gifted the then first lady with a specially commissioned sterling silver jewellery box with enamel lid. The item is valued at US$390.
Mongolia: framed painting of a nature preserve
Melania is a big fan of interior design, so it’s no surprise some world leaders used this as inspiration for gifts. In July 2019, Khaltmaagiin Battulga, President of Mongolia, visited the White House and gave Melania a framed painting of a nature preserve valued at US$450.
The gift may also be a nod to Mongolia’s reported close relationship with Donald Trump Jr, whose trips to the country to hunt endangered sheep was rather controversial.
Qatar: porcelain vase
Meanwhile, the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani, gave Melania a porcelain vase valued at US$2,300 during his visit to Washington in July 2019.