The results are part of a larger inquiry
According to a House Committee on Oversight and Accountability inquiry by Congressional Democrats, Donald Trump did not report 17 gifts worth over £38,000 from India to the State Department.
The interim staff report, under the heading “Saudi Swords, Indian Jewellery and a Larger-than-Life Salvadoran Picture of Donald Trump: The Trump Administration’s Failure to Declare Significant Foreign Gifts” was made public on March 17, 2023.
These gifts, which were given between 2018 and 2021, came from Ram Nath Kovind, Narendra Modi, various chief ministers and the Indian Embassy in the Philippines.
Together with Trump, India also sent gifts to his wife Melania, daughter Ivanka Trump and son-in-law Jared Kushner.
The majority of gifts coincided with Ivanka Trump’s trip to Hyderabad in 2017 and Trump’s official trip to India in 2020.
The results are part of a larger inquiry into allegations that Trump and his family failed to register more than 100 foreign gifts totalling £237,000 from several nations, including Saudi Arabia, China, Japan, Qatar, Uzbekistan, Bahrain, Austria and Bangladesh, among others.
The report said: “Failing to report and disclose gifts pursuant to these rules violates the Foreign Gifts and Decorations Act and may also violate the Constitution’s Emoluments Clause, which prohibits the President from obtaining benefits from foreign entities while in office.
“In addition, under the Ethics in Government Act, the President is required to publicly disclose gifts over the minimal value that they and their immediate family received.”
The committee has also raised the prospect that world leaders would use presents to win favour with Trump.
It is reported that Modi gave Trump a “table, black marble with mother-of-pearl and stone inlay” valued at $1,400 and “cufflinks, by (designer Raghavendra) Rathore, in a presentation box” valued at $1,920 as gifts from India.
Modi also gave Ivanka Trump a “bracelet by Raghavendra Rathore” valued at $2,450 and a “charm bracelet, by Raghavendra Rathore, in a presentation box” valued at $2,750 to Melania Trump.
Modi also gave Kushner a “Bandhgala jacket, by Raghavendra Rathore, in a presentation box” worth $950.
Ex-president Kovind gave Trump a “silk Indian rug” costing $6,600 and a $4,630 marble Taj Mahal model.
Ivanka Trump received gifts from the Indian embassy in the Philippines in 2018 totalling $4,600 for a “rug, silk and wool, in a carrying bag”.
Undoubtedly, gifts are frequently exchanged at diplomatic meetings and as a means of promoting regional goods.
India has made a concerted effort to sell things created in India as presents for international visitors.
The disclosure of presents is another area where each nation has its own set of laws, with gifts given to Indian officials going to Toshakhana.
Several of the items Trump received that were mentioned in the House report are currently housed at the National Archives, but according to the law, the President and other federal officials must publicly record all gifts that cost more than $415.
It is believed that the Trump administration broke this rule.
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