Why Jill Biden Didn’t Buy the Diamond Gifted by PM Modi Despite Loving It

Former US first lady Jill Biden has revealed that she briefly considered purchasing a lab-grown diamond gifted by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his 2023 state visit to Washington, but changed her mind after US officials valued the stone at eight times its declared price.

In her memoir, View from the East Wing: A Memoir, Biden recalls receiving a 7.5-carat synthetic diamond from Modi, who presented it as a symbol of India’s growing ambitions in the lab-grown diamond industry.

Under US ethics rules, official gifts received by the president and first lady become government property. However, recipients can purchase them by paying the fair market value determined through a government appraisal.

“In the case of Modi’s diamond, the prime minister said that it had been handmade in his hometown for $2,500. He even had the bill of sale. I thought, ‘Maybe I’ll buy it.’ Then the State Department appraised it at $20,000, so I did not,” Biden wrote.

“The diamond was gorgeous,” she added.

Ring Returned After Leaving White House

Biden said that while serving as first lady, she had the diamond mounted in a ring and wore it during official events. However, the ring was returned to government custody after she and former President Joe Biden left office.

“When we left office, I gave it back. The ring went into a warehouse along with an infinitude of other presidential gifts, many of which are simply destroyed,” she wrote.

Diplomatic Gift Rules in India

The memoir also highlights the protocols surrounding diplomatic gifts. In India, gifts received by ministers and government officials are deposited in the Toshakhana maintained by the Ministry of External Affairs.

Officials may retain gifts valued below ₹5,000, while more expensive items can be acquired by paying the difference between the assessed value and the permitted retention threshold.

Inside Modi’s White House State Dinner

Elsewhere in the memoir, Biden recounted the behind-the-scenes challenges of hosting Modi’s state visit in June 2023, including accommodating a wide range of dietary preferences at the White House state dinner.

“Something always required reshuffling. At the India state dinner in June 2023, we thought we’d be safe with a vegetarian menu, but there were dozens of last-minute requests for vegan, dairy-free, and garlic-free meals,” she wrote.

The dinner drew attention for featuring a fully plant-based menu curated by chef Nina Curtis, with dishes inspired by Indian flavours, including marinated millet salad, saffron-infused risotto-stuffed portobello mushrooms and rose-cardamom strawberry shortcake.

Biden also described efforts to respect cultural traditions while planning official events, noting that White House staff avoided using white-themed decor when hosting leaders from countries such as India, China and Japan, where the colour is often associated with mourning and death.