Grand Theft America

Money Grab/Charge for access to the president

A Belgian diamond group handed over a ring for Trump. Four weeks later its tariff was back to zero.

— A Belgian diamond group hands over a ring for Trump; 4 weeks later its tariff is zero.

The Antwerp World Diamond Centre gave the U.S. ambassador a gold ring with 321 diamonds, engraved “Crafted in Antwerp for Donald John Trump.” On July 24, European natural diamonds were exempted from Trump’s new tariffs.

Date
The gift
A ring Sen. Wyden's office valued at $35,000
Who
Antwerp World Diamond Centre · Isidore Mörsel · David Gotlib · Ambassador Bill White
Status
Exemption in effect; the ring's location is not public

What happened

In September 2025, Antwerp’s diamond industry won a zero tariff on European cut diamonds. It lost it in February 2026, when the Supreme Court struck down Trump’s emergency tariffs and the administration replaced them with a temporary 10% tariff. The Antwerp World Diamond Centre, a public-private industry body, lobbied for the exemption back.

On June 28, 2026, at an America 250 celebration in Brussels, AWDC president Isidore Mörsel gave U.S. Ambassador Bill White a ring to deliver to Trump. Made by Antwerp designer David Gotlib, it is 18-karat gold set with 321 diamonds, 56 sapphires, 13 emeralds and six rubies, and is engraved “Crafted in Antwerp for Donald John Trump.”

On July 23, Trump directed new Section 301 tariffs with a list of exempted products, effective July 24. European natural diamonds were on it. AWDC announced that the zero tariff was restored.

Who benefited

Antwerp’s diamond traders, whose $2.1 billion a year in exports to the United States can again enter tariff-free. AWDC called the exemption “a significant boost.” Whether Trump kept the ring is not known: the White House said July 2 it had not yet reached him, and on October 6 Senators Warren and Blumenthal asked where it is.

Who wanted something

AWDC, which wanted its zero tariff back and had said so in formal comments to the trade office. AWDC says the ring was a gift for the embassy’s celebration and that “the suggestion that the ring was a payment or quid pro quo for a trade decision simply does not align with the facts.”

Who lost out

Every importer without an exemption, paying the new tariffs. Sen. Ron Wyden asked the trade office whether anyone in the administration discussed the ring or the exemption with AWDC; no answer has been made public.

Why it matters

A presidential gift and a tariff exemption for the giver arrived four weeks apart, through a process that does not explain who asked for which exemption. The exemption list came by presidential memorandum.

Sources Associated PressReutersAntwerp World Diamond Centre (primary)Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (primary)

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