Former President Donald Trump personally designed a large “key to the White House” that was given to presidential guests, including then-Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Jared Kushner writes in his soon to be released memoir.
The billionaire real estate mogul turned president designed the large old fashioned brass key as a token to special supporters who were given the gift privately, the New York Post reported.
Each key contained the presidential seal and the phrase “Key to the White House.” The ornate present came in a special wooden box that was engraved with the presidential seal with an interior featuring a graphic inlay of the White House.
Former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was given one of the keys in September 2020 when the Abraham Accords were signed.
Netanyahu showed the key to reporters in the Oval Office, Kushner said, but he was not the first recipient of the presidential gift.
“When Trump met with Bibi, he whipped out his signature gift – an oversize bronze ‘key to the White House’ in a wooden box carved with the presidential seal,” Kushner writes in his memoir “Breaking History,” which will be released later in the month. “Trump had designed the key himself to give to special guests.”
“This is the first key I’m giving to anyone,” Trump told Netanyahu privately, according to the book. “Even when I’m not president anymore, you can walk up to the front gate of the White House and present it, and they will let you in.”
Kushner recounts that he and White House advisor Avi Berkowitz were listening to the conversation and “tried to keep from laughing.”
“We had heard the line before, and Trump had delivered it a little too earnestly. Yet Bibi beamed,” Kushner says.
Soon after, Netanyahu asked Trump, “Can I show this?”
“Sure, I would love that,” Trump replied. Netanyahu then displayed the key for reporters.
“This was a special token of affection given by myself and the first lady to the prime minister and the first lady of Israel. And it’s a key. We call it a ‘key to the White House’ and it’s a key to our country and to our hearts,” Trump said.
Netanyahu responded: “Thank you, Mr. President. And I have said, and this is true, that you have the key to the hearts of the people of Israel because of all the great things you’ve done for the Jewish state and the Jewish people. So thank you.”