News
Biden Kept Rare Foreign Gift That Revived a Deeply Personal WWII Memory
The only other diplomatic item Biden chose to retain was a pair of Italian-made silver cufflinks, valued at roughly $723, given to him by Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni in 2024. Biden reimbursed the US government for keeping the cufflinks, according to the disclosure.
Newly released State Department disclosures reveal that former US President Joe Biden chose to personally retain only two diplomatic presidential gifts from his presidency—one of which carries profound emotional and historical significance tied to his family’s past.
Among thousands of items presented to Joe Biden by foreign leaders during his time in office, the most meaningful was a fragment of a World War II-era A-20 Havoc bomber, gifted by Papua New Guinea Prime Minister James Marape. The aircraft model is the same one flown by Joe Biden’s uncle, Second Lt. Ambrose Finnegan Jr., who died in a crash off the Pacific nation’s coast in 1944.
A Gift Rooted in Wartime History
The aircraft wreckage was presented to Joe Biden in 2023 and later disclosed in a government report detailing foreign gifts retained or archived by senior US officials. Biden has frequently spoken publicly about his uncle’s service and death during World War II, making the artifact more than a ceremonial keepsake—it served as a tangible link to a personal family tragedy.
Papua New Guinea’s role in the Pacific theater has long featured in Joe Biden’s storytelling, sometimes sparking controversy. Still, the gift symbolized shared history and sacrifice between the US and the island nation during the war.
Strict Rules on Presidential Gifts
Under US law, federal officials may not accept gifts worth more than $480 unless they reimburse the government or determine that returning the item would cause diplomatic embarrassment. Most gifts presidents receive—from jewelry to artwork—are typically transferred to the National Archives.
Records show Joe Biden followed that rule closely. Lavish items, including a custom silver train set from Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, a luxury bicycle from the UAE president, and novelty gifts like an ornate ice cream scoop, were all formally archived.
Laura Loomer Slams Reported Qatar Jet Gift to Trump as a “Stain” on His Legacy
The Other Gift Biden Kept
The only other diplomatic item Biden chose to retain was a pair of Italian-made silver cufflinks, valued at roughly $723, given to him by Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni in 2024. Biden reimbursed the US government for keeping the cufflinks, according to the disclosure.
Despite early political tensions between the two leaders, Joe Biden and Giorgia Meloni developed a notably warm rapport during international summits, making the gift a symbol of improved diplomatic ties.
First Lady Gifts Also Disclosed
The report also details items retained by First Lady Jill Biden, including luxury jewelry, perfume, and decorative items gifted by foreign dignitaries. As required, the Bidens paid fair market value for any items they kept, while sending others—such as books, brooches, and ceremonial objects—to the archives.
A Presidency Marked by Restraint
The disclosures paint a picture of restraint rather than excess. While world leaders offered Joe Biden numerous expensive and symbolic gifts, he kept only those with personal or diplomatic meaning.
In the end, the fragment of wartime aircraft stands out—not for its material value, but for its connection to history, loss, and memory, linking a former commander-in-chief to a family sacrifice made more than eight decades ago.
