Antwerp Diamond Industry Presents Ornate Freedom 250 Ring to Trump After US Tariff Win

BRUSSELS (AP): A gold ring small enough to fit on a wristwatch bears an elaborate patriotic design: clusters of diamonds forming two oversized letter T’s beside the Stars and Stripes, the years 1776 and 2026, and the numerals 45 and 47 arranged in the outline of Superman’s emblem. A winged eagle wrought in diamonds holds a ruby shield and an olive branch made of emeralds, positioned beneath a glowing “250” and above the words “250 YEARS USA” cut into 18-karat gold.

In all, the piece contains 321 diamonds, 56 sapphires, 13 emeralds and six rubies. It was handed over last week to Bill White, the United States ambassador to Belgium, with instructions to pass it on to US President Donald Trump.

Trump addressed the occasion in a pre-recorded video shown at a Brussels ceremony marking America’s 250th anniversary. “A very special thank you to my friends from Antwerp for the magnificent Freedom 250 ring,” he said.

Isidore Mörsel, who leads the Antwerp World Diamond Centre (AWDC), presented the ring on behalf of the port city’s long-established diamond trade. Antwerp ranks among the world’s foremost hubs for precious stones and faced severe strain last year amid the broad trade conflict launched by Trump.

“May this ring serve as a lasting 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,” Mörsel said. Inside the band, an inscription reads: “Crafted in Antwerp for Donald John Trump.”

Appraisers put the ring’s worth at between US$25,000 and US$35,000 — modest compared with other offerings Trump has received, such as a US$400 million aircraft from Qatar that he directed be refitted as a new Air Force One. Even so, the item highlights how lavish presents have become a visible tool for those hoping to gain the president’s goodwill.

A White House official, who requested anonymity to speak about the matter, said on Thursday that Trump had not yet received the ring.

The presentation follows a tariff victory for Belgium’s diamond exporters. In September, the AWDC announced it had secured a zero-percent import duty on Antwerp’s annual shipment of more than US$2 billion in polished diamonds to the United States. A group spokesperson said on Thursday that the AWDC supplied “input” to the European Commission during 2025 negotiations with Trump over a wider tariff agreement, but did not engage in direct lobbying of the US administration.

American presidents hold wide authority to decide whether to keep gifts from domestic or foreign donors and whether those items belong to them personally or to the country. Presents from foreign governments are barred under the Constitution’s foreign emoluments clause unless Congress approves; presidents who wish to keep official gifts may pay the Treasury the full value from their own money.

Personal gifts must also be listed on the president’s annual financial disclosure form. Trump’s 2025 filing, made public this week, recorded a US$250,000 sculpture showing his raised fist after he survived a 2024 assassination attempt at a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, along with tickets to 10 sporting events — including 10 seats for the upcoming World Cup final in New Jersey from FIFA president Gianni Infantino — valued together at US$15,000.

Four ethics specialists in the United States told The Associated Press that Trump has departed from a White House tradition spanning decades of declining such gifts.