A heavily jeweled gold ring, described as the "Freedom 250" ring, was presented to U.S. Ambassador to Belgium Bill White this week to be given to President Donald Trump. The ring, adorned with 321 diamonds, 56 sapphires, 13 emeralds, and six rubies, spells out "T" twice alongside American symbols and dates.
Isidore Mörsel, president of the Antwerp World Diamond Center (AWDC), gifted the ring on behalf of the Belgian diamond industry. Mörsel stated the gift is a "very special thank you" and a reminder that "true partnership like the finest natural diamonds are formed under pressure, endure the test of time, and shine brightest when built on trust." The ring's interior is engraved with the phrase "Crafted in Antwerp for Donald John Trump."
This presentation comes months after Belgium's diamond industry secured the removal of U.S. tariffs on diamond imports. In September, AWDC announced it had achieved a zero percent import tariff on Antwerp's annual export of more than $2 billion in polished diamonds to the U.S. An AWDC spokesperson indicated the group provided input to the European Commission during its negotiations with the Trump administration on broader tariff issues, but did not directly lobby.
While the ring's dollar value is less than other significant gifts, such as a $400 million plane, it highlights the use of elaborate gifts by those seeking favor with the U.S. president. A White House official stated on condition of anonymity that the ring had not yet been presented to Trump.
U.S. presidents have discretion in accepting gifts, with specific rules for those from foreign governments and requirements for personal gifts to be registered on annual financial disclosures. Trump's 2025 disclosure included a $250,000 sculpture and tickets to sporting events.
Four U.S. ethics experts told The Associated Press that Trump has deviated from established White House customs regarding gift acceptance. The ring was crafted by Antwerp-based jeweler David Gotlib. Neither AWDC nor Gotlib provided a valuation, but independent jewelers estimated its worth between $25,000 and $35,000, with roughly half the cost attributed to materials and the other half to labor.
The ring was presented during an event in Brussels marking America's 250th birthday, an event for which Ambassador White reportedly raised over $5.5 million from corporate sponsors. The ultimate fate of the ring remains unclear. White posted a now-deleted photo of himself wearing the ring.