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demmiblue

(39,204 posts)
4. The President probably got gifts from other countries and displayed them around the White House.
Wed Dec 23, 2020, 11:18 AM
Dec 2020

I wouldn't doubt it if Trump tries to cop a few (President's are not allowed to keep them).

Edit (they can keep some):

Foreign Official Gifts
Even though heads of state have traditionally exchanged gifts as expressions of goodwill, the Constitution (Article I, Section 9) prohibits anyone in the US Government from receiving a personal gift from a foreign head of state without the consent of Congress. Today, the handling of gifts from a foreign official to any Federal Government employee, including the President, is largely governed by the Foreign Gifts and Decorations Act of 1966 and further legislation passed in 1977. Congress has allowed Federal employees to retain any gift from a foreign government, as long as the total US retail value of the gifts presented at one occasion does not exceed an amount established by the General Services Administration (GSA).[1] Foreign official gifts over this “minimal value” are considered gifts to the people of the United States, which the recipient must purchase from GSA, at fair market value, in order to retain. The White House Gift Unit sees to the disposition of foreign official gifts that the President and First Lady do not retain.

Domestic Gifts
Any gift not from a foreign government official is considered a domestic gift. Domestic gifts to the President and/or First Lady may be disposed of in any manner the President and First Lady wish. If they want to keep a domestic gift, they do not have to purchase it from the Government.
Reasons for Not Retaining Gifts

The President and First Lady keep for themselves only a small percentage of the gifts that they receive. Reasons for this include the following:

The requirement to pay for certain foreign official gifts (see first section).
The White House Gift Unit constantly receives items from the general public, and it is impossible for the President and First Lady to ever see most of them.
To protect the President and his family, the Secret Service requires destruction of food and drink gifts, combus­tible items which may release fumes, and colognes and other substan­ces that are applied to the skin.
Any gifts retained by the President and First Lady that are not from a close relative – including foreign official gifts that they keep – may have to be declared in an annual disclosure report to the Office of Government Ethics.[2]
The President and First Lady may have to pay federal taxes on the appraised value of gifts that they keep.

https://www.reaganlibrary.gov/reagans/reagan-administration/presidential-gifts

Recommendations

0 members have recommended this reply (displayed in chronological order):

returning Presidential gifts? wtf? Thomas Hurt Dec 2020 #1
I found that odd as well RAB910 Dec 2020 #3
just be sure DENVERPOPS Dec 2020 #35
they inventory everything during the transition. sop. mopinko Dec 2020 #40
The President probably got gifts from other countries and displayed them around the White House. demmiblue Dec 2020 #4
I'm sure he's rec'd many gifts... ZenDem Dec 2020 #6
As long as he can keep the prized giant letters colorado_ufo Dec 2020 #14
Those Will Be Filed COL Mustard Dec 2020 #28
I'm sure those will be displayed in the Trump Presidential Library. JustABozoOnThisBus Dec 2020 #38
I think that means swag items with the Presidential seal that can be given away. Nt Fiendish Thingy Dec 2020 #12
Grifts??? marble falls Dec 2020 #25
It is beginning to seem real. Polly Hennessey Dec 2020 #2
Lock up the silverware and other antiquities. maddogesq Dec 2020 #5
And all the valuable artwork and paintings dalton99a Dec 2020 #7
AND the EVIDENCE!! lastlib Dec 2020 #29
The silver in the White House is of historic value. Paper Roses Dec 2020 #34
I hope Trump doesn't bother returning from Florida after Christmas. Lonestarblue Dec 2020 #8
Following last night's email, a new one reportedly went to all White House staff this morning ... mahatmakanejeeves Dec 2020 #9
"Oops. The president won BIG. We are staying" dalton99a Dec 2020 #11
He still thinks that somehow, he will be re-instated. Marie Marie Dec 2020 #37
The only thing that will change with the new instructions is they will be marked top secret RAB910 Dec 2020 #16
Buh bye. we can do it Dec 2020 #10
The Administration is Leaving? Good! Skeptical Thomas Dec 2020 #13
My advice... Totally Tunsie Dec 2020 #15
Away with you! Bayard Dec 2020 #17
At this moment, Melania is saying .... jb5150 Dec 2020 #18
Better count the silverware. OMGWTF Dec 2020 #19
Aw heck, why hang around for 2 more weeks? They should leave now FakeNoose Dec 2020 #20
This has since been superseded by another email NewJeffCT Dec 2020 #21
I hope they leave in time to allow a full, deep fumigation of every nook and cranny. And... George II Dec 2020 #22
bu bye.. Maxheader Dec 2020 #23
Two weeks to fumigate the place n/t hibbing Dec 2020 #24
Will believe it when I see it question everything Dec 2020 #26
This video shows how we all feel: Liberty Belle Dec 2020 #27
Except for some of the lyrics, which Trump wants to appropriate: JustABozoOnThisBus Dec 2020 #39
So he's leaving early? Polybius Dec 2020 #30
Subject: get the fuck out of our White House TeamPooka Dec 2020 #31
Just like his health care plan, except this is real. mahina Dec 2020 #32
... orleans Dec 2020 #33
"Boxing up office supplies"???? That stuff is OURS, not theirs. niyad Dec 2020 #36
Crank up the firehoses Blue Owl Dec 2020 #41
Not a moment too soon n/t Lulu KC Dec 2020 #42
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