(MENAFN) A report released by Democratic staffers on the House Oversight Committee reveals that the White House under former President Donald Trump failed to report over 100 gifts given to him and his family by foreign governments during his time in office. Some of these gifts, including a "larger-than-life-sized" painting from the president of El Salvador and golf clubs from the prime minister of Japan valued at over USD7,200, remain missing. In addition, a decorated box valued at USD450 that was gifted to Jared Kushner, Trump's son-in-law and White House adviser, is also unaccounted for.
The missing items are part of 117 foreign gifts to Trump and his family valued at USD291,000 that the White House failed to report to the State Department as required by federal law. The committee staffers relied on White House and National Archives records to determine which gifts weren't reported to the State Department. The unreported items included gifts from Chinese President Xi Jinping, Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman of Saudi Arabia, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and others.
The report raises significant questions about why former President Trump failed to disclose these gifts to the public, as required by law, and the White House's failure to report them to the State Department. Under the Foreign Gifts and Decorations Act, foreign gifts given to federal officials or their families become the property of the U.S. government if their worth exceeds a certain value. For most of Trump's time in office, the value was USD415, and it is currently USD480. The White House is responsible for reporting gifts given to the president, vice president, and their families to the State Department, which publishes a report about all gifts given to government employees every year.
A spokesperson for Trump did not immediately respond to a request for comment from CBS News about the report. The missing gifts, some of which are of significant value, are a cause for concern as they raise questions about the transparency and accountability of government officials. The report highlights the importance of adhering to federal laws and regulations regarding the reporting of gifts from foreign governments to ensure that government officials are held accountable and that the public is aware of any potential conflicts of interest.
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