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PM Modi Gifted Jill Biden a Diamond
Washington: Former US First Lady Jill Biden has offered a rare glimpse into White House gift protocols, recalling a diamond presented by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his state visit to the United States in June 2023. The account appears in her memoir, View from the East Wing: A Memoir (2026), where she describes the gift as one of the most memorable she received during her time in public office.
In the book, Biden writes that PM Modi presented her with a 7.5-carat synthetic diamond during his official visit to Washington. She described the gemstone as a symbol of India’s growing ambitions in the lab-grown diamond industry and noted that it was among the most remarkable gifts she encountered while serving as first lady.
According to Biden, Modi explained that the diamond had been handcrafted in his hometown and was valued at approximately $2,500. He also reportedly shared documentation related to the purchase.
Biden revealed that she initially explored the possibility of purchasing the diamond herself. Under US government ethics rules, gifts presented to the president or first lady during official engagements become federal property unless they are purchased at their officially assessed value.
However, the plan changed after the US State Department conducted an appraisal and estimated the diamond’s value at $20,000. Faced with the significantly higher valuation, Biden decided not to proceed with the purchase.
Although she did not buy the gemstone, the diamond was later mounted into a ring that she wore at several official events during her tenure as first lady. Once her term ended, the ring was returned to government custody in accordance with federal regulations governing diplomatic gifts.
Biden noted that many such gifts are stored by the government after officials leave office, while some are eventually discarded.
The memoir also revisits preparations for PM Modi’s state visit and the White House state dinner held in his honour. It details the menu, diplomatic planning and gift-handling procedures, offering readers a behind-the-scenes look at one of the most significant diplomatic events of 2023.
